Professor Ian Ward, the research physicist who developed the technology, said it could replace liquid electrolytes currently used in rechargeable lithium cells. In addition the gel can be made into a thin, flexible film by way of an automated low-cost process.

The polymer gel developed by Professor Ward and his team gets rid of the traditional need for a separator in a rechargeable lithium battery, making for a lighter pack. In addition they have developed a patented manufacturing process that extrudes the gel between an anode and cathode at a speed of up to 10 meters per minute to create a battery that is nanometers thick.

The resultant battery film can be cut to any size and the lamination process seals the electrodes."The polymer gel looks like a solid film, but it actually contains about 70 percent liquid electrolyte," said Professor Ward, in a statement. "It's made using the same principles as making a jelly: you add lots of hot water to gelatine - in this case there is a polymer and electrolyte mix - and as it cools it sets to form a solid but flexible mass."The flexible film cells can be shaped and bent to fit the geometries of virtually any device.