kirigami

Kirigami, a centuries old Asian art form involving the cutting and folding of paper, is usually not associated with modern technology. But researchers at Arizona State University have devised a method to utilize Kirigami to craft stretchable batteries. Small, thin batteries are interconnected and folded together in a way that allows them to bend and stretch up to 150% their original size. The researchers view the new battery as a replacement for the power supplies currently used in wearable electronics. They view those bulky and rigid batteries as one of the primary limiting forces in the development of wearable tech. The new technology requires no new manufacturing techniques and would allow batteries to be woven directly into fabrics. The team has released a video of the battery integrated into a stretchable band and powering a smartwatch. Head past the break to check it out.