Soon, lithium-ion battery that can be woven from energy carrying 'yarn'

Scientists at Fudan University in Shanghai, China have developed a battery technology that can be woven into fabrics.

According to Phys.org, researcher Wei Weng and his colleagues have designed and fabricated carbon nanotube composite yarns that can be wound around lithium-ion battery fibers and onto a cotton fiber, to create a lithium-ion battery.

As fibers with a 1mm diameter, these than then be woven into flexible textiles or cloth, like strands of any other material, according to Green Car Reports.

The main aim is to develop the technology into a generation of wearable electronics, since devices would then have a power source that wouldn't require pockets and compartments specially developed for existing solid batteries.

But naturally, where there is material, there's a potential battery-so automobile trim panels, seats, carpets and more are all potential batteries using the tech.

Some may be uncomfortable with the idea of sitting on a big battery, and Gizmag reveals the team is looking to ensure resulting battery fibers are safe.

Weng said that it's "the most important thing for wearable electronics", and that the team is investigating the "battery structure, the electrolyte and the packaging".

The battery yarn also needs to be flexible-like any other woven material. It needs to stretch, and be easy to fold-particularly for other functions the team sees as useful, such as materials used in hiking and camping where an extra source of power could be very useful indeed.