By Lee Min-hyung

A state-run science and technology research organization has succeeded in developing core technologies for flexible fuel cells.

Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have demonstrated the super-lightweight and flexible fuel cell stacks.

The fuel cell is gaining attention as the next-generation environment-friendly energy source, as it uses hydrogen and air to create electricity without making pollutant by-products, according to KIST.

The technologies are expected to be widely used in the wearable device industry.

Flexibility is the catchphrase in the IT industry, as the market for wearable devices — such as smart watches or bands — is growing rapidly across the world. Tech titans including Samsung and Apple are also launching state-of-the-art wearable devices in a bid to build their own internet of things (IoT) ecosystem.

The new development is raising expectations that fuel cells can replace lithium-ion batteries, which are most commonly used in wearable devices. Scientists have tried to make flexible lithium-ion batteries, but have failed.

For this reason, there have been growing calls for a new energy source that can be flexible, according to KIST.

"The fuel cell comes with a lot of advantages compared with other energy sources in such areas as eco-friendliness and energy storage efficiency," senior KIST researcher Yoo Seong-jong said.

In particular, the scientist expects the drone industry to benefit from the new technologies.

"The flexible fuel cell will extend the duration of a drone's flight by more than three times compared with those equipped with existing batteries," he said. "The new development will serve as a stepping stone for the nation to lead the global fuel cell industry."

The research was published in the NPG Asia Materials scientific journal last week.