| Stanford University scientists have created a new | | | | perfect for "light-up clothes". |
| battery with impressive physical properties. The | | | | It is likely that the first and most prevalent use of |
| battery is an ultra-thin (as thin or thinner than | | | | these technologies would be for advertising. Cereal |
| paper) rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can be | | | | boxes, toy packaging, etc. could be first, followed |
| bent and warped without any degradation of | | | | by packaging for all manner of products, perhaps |
| operation. The prototype battery is made of a | | | | displaying the product in use. One could think up |
| sheet of paper to which is added a dual sided | | | | scenarios in which various technologies like the |
| coating of carbon nanotubes, followed by an | | | | aforementioned batteries and OLEDs would be |
| application of a lithium compound. The battery is | | | | paired with disposable nano CPUs and harddrives |
| expected to support 300 recharges before | | | | to create "video stickers" and countless other |
| needing to be replaced. | | | | devices. |
| The applications for such a flexible battery are | | | | Light bulbs could be made to harness these |
| nearly limitless. One technology that would mesh | | | | technologies. Standalone sheets of light that you |
| particularly well with these batteries is OLED | | | | could wrap around anything or fold into various |
| (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology. OLEDs | | | | shapes with no need for external power because |
| are used for small device screens, television | | | | the batteries would be wrapping and folding right |
| screens, computer monitors, and other similar | | | | there with the OLED sheets! OLEDs would be |
| things. More recent OLED development has led to | | | | great for low-lumen patches to put on clothing for |
| flexible screens that can be rolled up or folded; | | | | night exercisers/runners/bikers to increase safety |
| these would be perfect applications for an internal | | | | by huge amounts without cumbersome flashlights |
| battery that can roll and fold with the screen it is | | | | or apparatuses. That's just a tiny look into the |
| powering. Some research has even resulted in | | | | vast possibilities from these new paper-thin |
| luminescent cloth; flexible batteries would be | | | | batteries and OLED lights. |