Japanese company TDK claims a breakthrough in materials for small solid-state batteries. Apple supplier predicts a significant increase in device performance, from wireless headphones to smartwatches.
The new material provides an energy density of 1000 Wh per liter, which is approximately 100 times greater than existing TDK batteries in mass production. Since TDK introduced its batteries in 2020, competitors have advanced in the development of batteries that offer 50 Wh/l, while rechargeable small batteries using traditional liquid electrolytes offer about 400 Wh/l.
"We believe that our newly developed material for solid-state batteries can make a significant contribution to the energy transformation of society. We will continue to develop towards early commercialization," says TDK CEO Noboru Saito.
The batteries will be made from a solid ceramic material with a solid electrolyte and lithium alloy anodes. According to TDK, the high capacity of the battery to store electrical charge would allow for smaller device sizes and extended operating times, while offering a high degree of stability and safety. The technology aims to replace existing tab batteries found in watches and other small electronics. Solid-state batteries are safer, lighter, potentially cheaper, and provide higher performance and faster charging than batteries with liquid electrolytes.
Mechanical properties, as well as the complexity and cost of mass production, are challenges for the application of solid-state oxide batteries in smartphones and other devices. The most significant use case could be electric vehicles, increasing their range. Japanese companies are at the forefront of the push towards commercialization of the technology: Toyota aims to do this by 2027, Nissan in a year, and Honda by the end of the decade.
Automakers are focused on developing sulfide-based electrolytes for electric vehicles, an alternative to the oxide materials developed by TDK. However, there is still skepticism about how quickly such technology can be implemented in electric vehicles.
Robin Zeng, founder and CEO of CATL, the world's largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, says that solid-state batteries do not perform well enough, are not durable, and still have safety issues. TDK, founded in 1935 and known as a leading brand in cassette tape manufacturing, has extensive experience in battery materials and technologies. It holds 50% to 60% of the global market share of low-capacity batteries that power smartphones and aims to lead the medium-capacity market, including energy storage devices and larger electronics such as drones. The company plans to start supplying prototype samples of the new batteries to customers from next year.
Source: Ars Technica, The Financial Times
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