Strategic Elements unveils ‘ambitious’ development targets for self-charging battery technology
Both development goals are expected to be achieved before the end of the September quarter.
Pooled development fund Strategic Elements (ASX: SOR) has unveiled two new ambitious development targets for its self-charging battery technology, including powering an electronic device equipped with sensors and Bluetooth low energy communication, and producing in excess of a milliamp of electrical current.
In collaboration with the University of New South Wales, Strategic’s investee Australian Advanced Materials has developed the moisture-powered self-charging battery using graphene-oxide based ink.
The graphene ink enables “extremely small, thin and light-weight” battery cells to be printed onto surfaces such as glass and plastic.
These batteries are designed to self-charge using moisture from humidity in the air or skin.
Powering an electronic device
Strategic’s investee has set the target of its self-charging battery technology being capable of powering a low energy communication Bluetooth enabled electronic device with multiple sensors.
This is expected to be achieved by the end of the current quarter.
Strategic noted this power capability was essential for wireless sensor networks. It paves the way for wearable and internet of things devices to send data to phones or computers with greater computing and displays.
Achieving milliamp electrical current
The second development milestone is expected to mark the “most significant” demonstration of the self-charging battery’s technology to-date.
This goal is to print a prototype battery pack that can generate more than a milliamp of electrical current solely from moisture.
Strategic says the milliamp of electric current goal is scheduled to be achieved in the September quarter.
According to Strategic managing director Charles Murphy, the milliamp demonstration milestone has been brought forward.
He said this was because there had been “substantial” improvements in the battery ink power output over the last few months.
“Bringing forward the milliamp demonstration milestone is a highly ambitious goal that will establish the battery ink as a leading printable battery technology if it can be achieved.”
“Just as important in the near-term is developing an ink that is able to be screen printed as this would open new avenues to potentially scaling the technology rapidly and significantly,” Mr Murphy added.