Fabrication and Characterization of a Flexible Ag/AgCl-Zn Battery for Biomedical Applications

Daria Bentley, Rachel Heald, Joseph Fraser Daniel and Shaurya Prakash ()
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Daria Bentley: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43220, USA
Rachel Heald: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43220, USA
Joseph Fraser Daniel: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43220, USA
Shaurya Prakash: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43220, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: A flexible silver-zinc fabric-based primary battery that is biocompatible, conformable, and suitable for single-use wearable biomedical devices is reported. The planar battery was fabricated by screen printing silver/silver-chloride and zinc electrodes (14 mm × 8 mm) onto a silk substrate. A biologically relevant fluid, phosphate buffered saline was used as a liquid electrolyte for characterization. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and current discharge properties at constant densities of 0.89 μA/cm 2 , 8.93 μA/cm 2 , and 89.29 μA/cm 2 were used to quantify battery performance. Nine cells were placed in series to generate a greater open circuit voltage (>6 V) relevant to previously reported biomedical applications. The nine-cell battery was evaluated for operation under mechanical strain due to likely placement on curved surfaces of the body in wearable applications. The nine-cell battery was discharged over 4 h at 8.93 μA/cm 2 in an unstrained condition. The mechanically strained battery when mounted to a mannequin to mimic anatomical curvature discharged up to 30 min faster. Additionally, the nine-cell battery was used in an in vitro wound model to power an electroceutical, showing promise towards practical use in active, corrosive, and potentially biohazardous environments.

Keywords: flexible battery; silver; zinc; biocompatible; electroceuticals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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