An Embodied Paper‐Based Microfluidic Al‐Air Battery for Enduring Untethered Insect‐Scale Robots

ABSTRACT The scaling effects make energy supply a fundamental challenge for achieving autonomy in insect‐scale robotics. Inspired by the multifunctionality of biological tissue, dual‐function structural‐electrochemical integration based on a microfluidic aluminum‐air battery (MFAAB) paves a promising path toward energy autonomy in insect‐scale robotics. However, suboptimal mono‐surface anode utilization and restricted microfluidic transport dynamics of conventional AABs accelerate passivation and byproduct accumulation, hindering output performance. Here, we proposed and developed a centimeter‐size MFAAB with dual reaction surfaces for anode, and decompose byproduct accumulation via F − . Owing to the novel structural configuration and electrolyte optimization, it achieves a high capacity of 2697.05 mAh/g Al . The developed MFAABs demonstrate operational capacities of tens of milliwatts, successfully powering LEDs, DC motors, and electric toy car. We demonstrate the first successful integration of Al‐air batteries with insect‐scale robots through a structural‐electrochemical co‐design framework, harnessing energy weight proportion of 51.38%, achieving dual energy‐storage and electromechanical actuation functions for self‐sustaining operation. The integrated system simultaneously serves as a body‐conforming structural power source while exhibiting 2.56‐fold and 1.85‐fold higher endurance than a commercial lithium‐polymer (401015) and two series‐connected alkaline button batteries (LR44), respectively.