The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for improving the rigidity or stiffness of an electronic device chassis or housing using a structural secondary battery. The structural secondary battery includes a compression skin disposed about one or more secondary storage cells. The compression skin exerts a compressive force of at least 0.5 atmospheres on the one or more secondary storage cells. A structural member is bonded to the compression skin. The structural member includes a relatively thin (e.g. 0.1 mm or less), rigid (e.g., Young's Modulus of at least 300 GPa), member, such as a sapphire crystal. The structural member may then be bonded or otherwise detachably or non-detachably affixed to an aperture formed in the electronic device chassis or housing. The bonding of the structural member to the electronic device chassis or housing beneficially improves the stiffness of the chassis or housing.