title: Nanomaterial-enhanced all-solid flexible zinc--carbon batteries.
abstract: Solid-state and flexible zinc carbon (or Leclanche) batteries are fabricated using a combination of functional nanostructured materials for optimum performance. Flexible carbon nanofiber mats obtained by electrospinning are used as a current collector and cathode support for the batteries. The cathode layer consists of manganese oxide particles combined with single-walled carbon nanotubes for improved conductivity. A polyethylene oxide layer containing titanium oxide nanoparticles forms the electrolyte layer, and a thin zinc foil is used as the anode. The battery is shown to retain its performance under mechanically stressed conditions. The results show that the above configuration can achieve solid-state mechanical flexibility and increased shelf life with little sacrifice in performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK. pv237@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Pritesh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hiralal
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imaizumi
authors.forename: Husnu Emrah
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Unalan
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Mie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minagawa
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouvala
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanioka
authors.forename: Gehan A J
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Amaratunga