Development of a Zn/MnO2 Based Flexible Battery

A flexible battery based on zinc (anode) and manganese dioxide (MnO
2
) (cathode) as active materials was fabricated for wearable electronics. Carbon black was used as a conductive additive in the cathode to enhance the conductivity of MnO
2
. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is saturated with zinc oxide (ZnO) and used as an electrolyte. A flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate was used to coat ink slurries for anode and cathode. Electrochemical performance of the battery was compared with coin-cell within range of 0.8 – 1.2 V. Flexible Zn/MnO
2
based battery demonstrated a capacity of 0.25 mAh along with a voltage potential of 1.1 V when discharged at 0.01C. Flexible battery exhibited a higher specific capacity of 80 mAh/g compared to 40 mAh/g for the coin-cell.