The leaps in the electronics sector has revolutionized our world with their inalienable presence in our everyday life. However, the rectangular shape of the batteries in these devices restricts the possibilities of their adaptation in textiles and wearable electronics. Thus, a major caveat in the research of flexible electronic devices like flexible batteries, supercapacitors and PV cells is the availability of flexible conductors with adequate conductivity to replace rigid foils and semi-flexible films.

Challenges

• Combining high conductivity with high flexibility
• Retention of conductivity after repeated bending cycles
• Achieving performance in flexible devices comparable to rigid and semi-flexible counterparts

Conducting Fibres

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The objective is to create flexible and stretchable conducting fibres which can be incorporated in textiles. The popular research in the field involves the incorporation of wires into textile structures which reduce the flexibility and resilience of the fabric.

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• Kiran Yadav, Surabhi Jha, Manjeet Jassal, Ashwini K. Agrawal, Internally coated highly conductive and stretchable AgNW-PU hollow fibers, Polymer, 2019, 169, 46-51 (Impact factor 3.483).  View

Conducting Devices

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The current focus of work in SMITA Research Lab is two-fold. The primary objective is to develop flexible devices such as supercapacitors and batteries by replacing all the rigid components such as current collectors and exploring different architectures such as nonwovens, cables, fabric etc. In parallel we are also making progress in achieving property retention after subjecting the device to extreme conditions of knotting, stretching or bending.