Researchers have developed a laser-based method to turn natural leather into flexible energy devices, opening a new path for sustainable wearable electronics.
The technique uses a CO2 laser to directly write conductive patterns onto vegetable-tanned leather, converting its surface into carbon that can store and regulate electrical energy.
The result is a microsupercapacitor embedded in a soft, wearable material.
The work was led by Dong-Dong Han at Jilin University, who said the approach simplifies fabrication while reducing environmental impact.
“Using a laser, we directly write conductive patterns onto vegetable tanned leather to create microsupercapacitors that can store energy and help smooth electrical signals so that wearable electronics run more reliably,” Han said.
Laser writes energy circuits
Unlike conventional energy storage devices that rely on synthetic materials and chemical-heavy processes, this method uses a natural substrate and a single-step fabrication process.
The laser transforms the leather surface into a conductive and porous structure, eliminating the need for complex manufacturing.
“Unlike conventional devices that rely on synthetic materials and complex, chemical-heavy processes, our approach uses a natural, skin-friendly material and a one-step fabrication method,” Han said.
By adjusting laser parameters, researchers can control how the carbon forms, allowing them to fine-tune performance.
The researchers demonstrate the microsupercapacitors by using them to power an electronic watch. Credit-Optica
The conductive patterns act as electrodes, enabling ions to gather and release quickly during charging and discharging.
The laser-induced carbon layer also creates a porous structure that increases the surface area available for charge storage, improving efficiency.
This allows the microsupercapacitors to not only store energy but also stabilize electrical output, reducing fluctuations that can affect device performance. Such dual functionality makes them particularly useful for compact, low-power wearable systems.
The team demonstrated the technique by creating patterned microsupercapacitors shaped like a tiger, dragon, and rabbit, highlighting the flexibility of the process.
Flexible power for wearables
“The microsupercapacitors are well-suited for flexible and comfortable wearable electronics because they are built on soft materials and can be shaped freely and integrated directly into products,” Han said.
The devices showed stable performance over repeated charge cycles and operated effectively at 60 Hz, a standard frequency for everyday electronics. In tests, they powered LEDs and even ran a small electronic watch.
The researchers say the technology could replace rigid batteries in devices like smartwatch bands, enabling thinner and more comfortable designs. It could also be used in smart clothing, skin-mounted sensors, and other wearable systems.
“Our method replaces plastic substrates with a renewable material, simplifies fabrication into a single laser step without chemicals or cleanroom processes, and combines energy storage with signal filtering in one device,” Han said.
Future work will focus on improving durability and performance, particularly under real-world conditions such as sweat, humidity, and repeated bending. The team is also exploring integration into self-powered health-monitoring systems.