Provides in-depth knowledge of flexible energy conversion and storage devices-covering aspects from materials to technologies Written by leading experts on various critical issues in this emerging field, this book reviews the recent progresses on flexible energy conversion and storage devices, such as batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells, and fuel cells. It introduces not only the basic principles and strategies to make a device flexible, but also the applicable materials and technologies, such as polymers, carbon materials, nanotechnologies and textile technologies. It also discusses the perspectives for different devices. Flexible Energy Conversion and Storage Devices contains chapters, which are all written by top researchers who have been actively working in the field to deliver recent advances in areas from materials syntheses, through fundamental principles, to device applications. It covers flexible all-solid state supercapacitors; fiber/yarn based flexible supercapacitors; flexible lithium and sodium ion batteries; flexible diversified and zinc ion batteries; flexible Mg, alkaline, silver-zinc, and lithium sulfur batteries; flexible fuel cells; flexible nanodielectric materials with high permittivity for power energy storage; flexible dye sensitized solar cells; flexible perovskite solar cells; flexible organic solar cells; flexible quantum dot-sensitized solar cells; flexible triboelectric nanogenerators; flexible thermoelectric devices; and flexible electrodes for water-splitting. -Covers the timely and innovative field of flexible devices which are regarded as the next generation of electronic devices -Provides a highly application-oriented approach that covers various flexible devices used for energy conversion and storage -Fosters an understanding of the scientific basis of flexible energy devices, and extends this knowledge to the development, construction, and application of functional energy systems -Stimulates and advances the research and development of this intriguing field Flexible Energy Conversion and Storage Devices is an excellent book for scientists, electrochemists, solid state chemists, solid state physicists, polymer chemists, and electronics engineers.

Battery technology is constantly changing, and the concepts and applications of these changes are rapidly becoming increasingly more important as more and more industries and individuals continue to make “greener” choices in their energy sources. As global dependence on fossil fuels slowly wanes, there is a heavier and heavier importance placed on cleaner power sources and methods for storing and transporting that power. Battery technology is a huge part of this global energy revolution. Zinc batteries are an advantageous choice over lithium-based batteries, which have dominated the market for years in multiple areas, most specifically in electric vehicles and other battery-powered devices. Zinc is the fourth most abundant metal in the world, which is influential in its lower cost, making it a very attractive material for use in batteries. Zinc-based batteries have been around since the 1930s, but only now are they taking center stage in the energy, automotive, and other industries. Zinc Batteries: Basics, Developments, and Applicationsis intended as a discussion of the different zinc batteries for energy storage applications. It also provides an in-depth description of various energy storage materials for Zinc (Zn) batteries. This book is an invaluable reference guide for electrochemists, chemical engineers, students, faculty, and R&D professionals in energy storage science, material science, and renewable energy.

Because of the increasing demand for high-safety and low-cost energy storage devices, aqueous Zn batteries are attracting broad interests. Tremendous and increasing efforts are being dedicated to aqueous Zn batteries for better understanding the mechanism, and improving the cycle life and energy density. This book is uniquely placed to be a compendium of the state of the art by key players in the field with diverse and complementary sets of expertise. It will cover all parts of the device, including electrode design, electrolyte engineering, different battery design, flexible devices, and thermal protection. You are looking at the most comprehensive and inclusive collection of opinions and trends in the field of aqueous Zn batteries.

This study examines the feasibility of utilizing traditional flexographic printing technology for large-scale zinc-based battery manufacturing for grid energy storage applications. The design and development of functional flexographic inks is the main goal of this study. Printed battery electrochemical performance is also a focus area. Long-life, energy dense, cost effective electrochemical energy storage systems for power grid applications have become a fast-emerging industry in recent decades. Grid energy storage is widely regarded as an important component of the smart grid, because of its potential role in complementing intermittent renewable energy sources. However, battery technologies have not improved much over the past few decades. Both new battery chemistries and fabrication processes are needed to significantly reduce battery cost and to allow for easy integration with renewables. Printable batteries were designed based on fundamental electrochemical principles governing the battery performance, including thermodynamics, reaction kinetics as well as transport properties. With cost and application factors taken into account, practical battery system design criteria were also summarized with regard to battery geometry, chemistry and fabrication technology. A survey of current main printing technologies was conducted. Based on the criteria developed for functional printing process design and selection, a comparison of the technologies was made and a roll-to-roll flexographic printing process for rechargeable zinc-based battery manufacturing was proposed. Based on the fundamental operating mechanism of flexography, key criteria for developing functional flexographic printing inks were established, including composite ink rheology (steady-state viscosity and yield stress), ink wettability as well as ink dispersing qualities. The ink viscosity significantly influences the ink transfer efficiency while the yield stress critically determines its structural integrity once transferred on flexible substrate. The ink wettability indicates the ink spreading properties and film uniformity while the ink dispersing quality affects the ink homogeneity from before printing through the printing process. A variety of MnO2 cathode inks were formulated and analyzed based on these criteria. A novel type of aqueous cathode ink based on PSBR polymeric binder showed excellent flexographic printability. Extensive electrochemical characterizations with the flexographically printed PSBR-based composite MnO2 cathode were then conducted. Full cells consisting of dispenser-printed electrolytes and zinc foil anodes were assembled. The cyclic voltammetry method was used to study the reversible zinc intercalation through ionic liquid electrolyte into the aqueous-based cathode. Galvanostatic cycling showed that the cell capacity stabilized after about twenty cycles and the capacity varied significantly with discharge current density. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed the interfacial resistance between the gel electrolyte and zinc foil, as well as the evolution of impedance components through cycling, for a full zinc- based cell system. Coin cells based on zinc/ionic liquid electrolyte/MnO2 chemistry were made in an inert argon environment and then characterized to study zinc-based chemistry performance in this controllable environment. The coin cells showed comparable behavior to batteries printed in the ambient environment. Printable PSBR-based nickel current collector inks have also been developed for an entirely printable zinc-based battery, to conveniently integrate with other electronics on non-conductive, flexible substrates. An integrated energy-harvesting prototype was fabricated, which was consisted of dispenser- printed thermoelectric energy harvesting and electrochemical energy storage devices with a commercial voltage step-up converter. Parallel-connected thermoelectric devices with low internal resistances were designed, fabricated and characterized. The use of a commercially available DC-to-DC converter was explored to step-up a 27.1mV input voltage from a printed thermoelectric device to a regulated 2.34V output. The voltage step-up circuit efficiency reached as maximum of 32.4% during the battery charging process while the battery charging efficiency was approximately 67%. The prototype presented in this study demonstrates the feasibility of deploying a printable, cost-effective and perpetual power solution for practical wireless sensor network applications. This work paves the path for potential integration of printable photovoltaic cell, zinc-based battery as well as relevant electronics for grid energy storage applications.

The scientific community and industry have seen tremendous progress in efficient energy production and storage in the last few years. With the advancement in technology, new devices require high-performance, stretchable, bendable, and twistable energy sources, which can be integrated into next-generation wearable, compact, and portable electronics for medical, military, and civilian applications. Smart and Flexible Energy Devices examines the materials, basic working principles, and state-of-the-art progress of flexible devices like fuel cells, solar cells, batteries, and supercapacitors. Covering the synthesis approaches for advanced energy materials in flexible devices and fabrications and fundamental design concepts of flexible energy devices, such as fuel cells, solar cells, batteries, and supercapacitors, top author teams explore how newer materials with advanced properties are used to fabricate the energy devices to meet the future demand for flexible electronics. Additional features include: • Addressing the materials, technologies, and challenges of various flexible energy devices under one cover • Emphasizing the future demand and challenges of the field • Considering all flexible energy types, such as fuel cells, solar cells, batteries, and supercapacitors • Suitability for undergraduate and postgraduate students of material science and energy programs This is a valuable resource for academics and industry professionals working in the field of energy materials, nanotechnology, and energy devices.