Innovation in Materials and Design for Flexible Energy Devices

Abstract

In the past several years, the interest in wearable and flexible electronics has increased suddenly and powerfully; for instance, applications are being developed in flexible electronics, such as roll-up display, active radio frequency identifications (RFIDs), energy devices, electronic papers, wearable sensors, etc. Flexible electronics have the potential to experience high mechanical distortions, such as twisting, folding, bending, folding, etc., even to buckle into more complex structures while retaining efficient device performance. The advancement of these electronics seriously demands wearable and flexible energy devices (EDs), such as supercapacitors, flexible batteries, nanogenerators, flexible display devices, etc., that acquire high power density, energy density, remarkable durability, and flexibility to power numerous flexible and wearable systems. Therefore, a sustainable attempt has been dedicated to enhancing numerous types of wearable and flexible energy devices. To achieve flexibility of EDs, structures and materials are two key factors. Thus, it becomes a priority to realize the mechanics fundamental to guide us for improving the design of flexible energy devices to match the specification of wearable electronics. This chapter discusses the fundamentals, wearability assessment, self-healing mechanism, and structural requirement summarized the structural and configurational design, as well as the properties of various flexible energy devices. We also elaborate on the invention of new materials and the latest structures design for enhancing the flexible EDs performance.