Flexible thin-film batteries to grow six times in five years

The flexible thin-film battery market is an attractive and fast growing market characterised by very high production volumes, according to a report titled "Flexible Thin Film Batteries " A Global Technology, Industry and Market Analysis'. To sustain its growth, manufacturers have pursued efforts to make them extremely reliable and low in cost.

Thin-film lithium and lithium-ion batteries are suitable for a variety of applications where small-power sources are needed. They can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes as required by users. By using the available space within a device, the battery can provide the required power whilst occupying otherwise wasted space and adding negligible mass.

Four major applications are discussed in the report, which will create most of the market for thin-film products over the next five years. These are SmartCards, RFID tags, implantable medical devices, and microelectronic devices, flexible displays and E-papers.

The range of possible applications for these batteries derives from their important advantages as compared to conventional battery technologies. They can be made in virtually any shape and size to meet the requirements of each application.

The batteries are rechargeable, which means their size need be no larger than is required to satisfy the energy requirements on a single cycle, therefore reducing cost and weight.

The report focuses on thin-film batteries (thicknesses below 0.6 mm) that can be used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), microrobots and microsensors, and can also be printed on integrated circuits (ICs) like any other electronic components.

Production will be low-cost and high-volume. These batteries can be manufactured in any size, shape, voltage, or power capacity needed. Thin-film batteries (TFB) are positioned to become the next generation of lithium batteries for portable electronic applications.

Major applications include smart cards and smart tags, single-use health and medical devices, and multimedia enhancements for entertainment items, novelties and packaging.