Under the global vision of carbon neutrality and sustainable development, innovations in energy storage technology are no longer just games in a laboratory; they have become the core engine reshaping future lifestyles. Currently, researchers worldwide are dedicated to overcoming the bottlenecks of existing battery systems in terms of flexibility, cost, and energy density, striving to construct a green energy ecosystem that aligns with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles.
Imagine a seamless future where your daily wearings fit your body perfectly and monitor your heart rate, body temperature, and exercise data in real-time through sensing fibers, while providing continuous power to E-terminals. Electrospinning technology is the key to realizing this vision. Leading researchers have utilized this technique to develop fiber-based electrodes that break through the fragility of traditional battery electrodes, which typically fail under large-angle bending (Figure 1). High-performance fiber-shaped flexible lithium-ion batteries (FLBs) can now be mass-produced in scales ranging from hundreds to thousands of meters. These fibers can be woven into everyday clothing or even professional fireproof suits. For instance, firefighting suits integrated with FLBs with gel electrolytes can maintain a stable voltage even when heated above 80°C. They can withstand extreme conditions – such as twisting, impact, cutting, and even boiling water – without failure, ensuring stable discharge.
Electrospinning technology provides effective solutions to tailor the inherent defects of various cathode and anode materials, enabling FLBs with high energy density and cycling stability. With their outstanding performance, FLBs are poised to become a pivotal force driving the rapid expansion of the global wearable technology market, offering an ideal power solution for modern wearable devices.
Addressing the uneven global distribution and soaring costs of lithium resources, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a “star technology” in the global energy sector and a promising alternative to the early lithium-ion systems. Carbon anodes play a crucial role in SIBs due to their structural stability, abundant resource availability, low cost, excellent conductivity, and tunable morphology and pore structures. Currently, researchers are optimizing the cycle life and rate performance of hard carbon anodes for SIBs through dimensional engineering and microstructural regulation.
Laboratories worldwide are optimizing Na+ storage sites through dimensional engineering (from 0D nanoparticles to 3D network structures), heteroatom doping (such as N, S, and P), and microstructural tailoring (including defect engineering and pore structure design). These strategies substantially extend battery life (Figure 2). Since hard carbon materials are mostly derived from inexpensive and readily available biomass or waste polymers, this low-cost solution is highly competitive in the flexible battery sector. It paves the way for accessible flexible batteries for everyone, contributing to the realization of a “carbon neutral” society.
Looking ahead…….
After summarizing the global research achievements in this field, Prof. Bin FEI believes that the transformative breakthroughs in fiber-based energy storage devices and carbon materials are at a critical turning point from laboratory research to industrial production. These technologies will not only pave the way for next-generation energy-autonomous systems but also profoundly enhance the quality of life globally by providing cleaner and smarter energy solutions. Future energy storage will no longer be seen as cold, rigid hardware, but as a “lighter, greener, and smarter” integral part of daily life. By strengthening the collaboration between academia and industry, these innovations in microscopic fibers and carbon structures will inevitably grow into a macroscopic force driving global sustainable development, creating a better future for all humanity.
