David Savastano, Editor01.12.11
Thin-film, printable batteries are one of the key areas for printed electronics. Due to their low cost and flexibility, these batteries could be ideal to power any number of applications, from smart cards, cosmetic and medicinal patches and greeting cards to sensors, battery-assisted passive (BAP) RFID and any number of disposable products.
There has been great interest in developing these power sources, and the market potential remains high, despite present revenues remaining below $100 million in 2010. In its May 2010 report, “Thin-Film and Printable Batteries: Strategies for the Future,” NanoMarkets, a consulting firm, places the market at potentially $1 billion by 2015.
iRAP, Inc.’s report, “Rechargeable and Non-Rechargeable, Flexible, Thin-Film Batteries: A Global Industry and Market Analysis,” released in November 2010, states the thin-film battery market will reach $600 million by 2015. The key, of course, is finding ideal applications and working with designers and brand owners on these projects.
Meanwhile, companies such as Blue Spark Technologies, Enfucell, VARTA Microbattery, Solicore, Power ID and Power Paper, among many others, are advancing their respective technologies.
“Interest in printed batteries has been growing since the end of 2009, and we have done our first commercial shipments this fall,” said Risto Huvila, COO, global customer operations, Enfucell Ltd., which uses rotary screen printing for its batteries. “It seems that major brands who ceased their development projects late 2008 are now returning.”
“As printed electronics gain more and more importance, it can be expected that a lot of printed objects will need an energy supply,” said Sonja Peitl-Steinert, corporate communications and corporate marketing/PR, VARTA Microbattery GmbH, a leading international manufacturer of OEM and retail batteries. “Therefore, the interest is quite high from several application fields in printed batteries.”
“There is huge interest in printed batteries,” said Matt Ream, vice president marketing, Blue Spark Technologies. “We are seeing a lot of interest in smart cards incorporating printed displays, battery-assisted, passive (BAP) RFID, RF-enabled sensors, interactive printed media and packaging, and medical and cosmeceutical devices, where we are starting to see some traction.”
Dave Corey, CEO of Solicore, Inc. presented a very positive outlook for the embedded power marketplace that is in direct alignment with the market analysts prediction of impressive growth within the thin film battery space. Solicore is noted for its Flexion product portfolio of advanced 3 volt ultra-thin, flexible, lithium polymer batteries driving powered cards (debit, credit, access/identity and gift card), RFID battery assisted passive tags, as well as a variety of micro and medical devices. All core markets will demand large scale/low cost solutions.
“Within our three core market segments – powered cards, medical and RFID powered solutions – we are experiencing strong growth, as businesses are deploying solutions at a record pace. It is my impression that the tipping point came in June, and it is now translating into increased orders and exceptional projections for 2011 and beyond,” said Corey.
Advantages of Thin-Film Batteries
The ability to manufacture disposable, flexible power sources at low cost is a key driver in the potential for printed batteries.
“The most important advantage of printed batteries is that designers can create a form factor that is capable of running through traditional printing presses and converting lines,” said Ream. “Circuits can then be directly printed or inlaid into the packaging.”
“The big advantage for a thin film battery is the flexible design,” said Peitl-Steinert. “A change of size and electrical properties can easily be achieved compared to common known battery technologies.”
“The advantages seem to be mainly related to environmental as well as skin irritation and allergy issues, but also form factors, like size, flexibility, lightness etc.,” Huvila said. “The major limitations relate to the industry, as the end applications are not yet there in a big scale.”
Key Markets for Thin-Film Batteries
There are plenty of applications where low-cost flexible batteries and power supplies could have a huge impact.
Solicore has focused on key markets where the attributes of their battery align with the requirements and demands of the marketplace.
“For us, the four criteria essential to success are being thin, flexible, safe and tolerant of elevated temperatures. The standard hot lamination process to create a credit card today demands temperatures in the range of 135°C,” Corey noted. “Our battery chemistry has been designed and developed to survive production at these temperature levels in order that existing industry production standards could be maintained. This is in addition to our support of other manufacturing processes, including cold, warm, and injection molding encapsulation, ensures that market acceptance and scaled production can be maintained.”
“We can see a fast-growing interest in the area of printed displays and labels, and micro sensors especially in the medical field. Also semi-passive BAP RFID is moving, but not too fast,” Huvila noted.
“We expect that printed batteries will be used first of all in energy autarkic sensors, advertisement items, smart card applications and active RFID tags,” Peitl-Steinert said. “Due to the fact that this is a new battery technology there could be even new market segments or applications which we do not see today.”
“The BAP RFID market is ramping up the quickest,” Ream said. “We are working with multiple customers who are developing products using our battery technology. We see enormous potential for these applications. Interactive packaging is also making headway, as consumer product goods managers are starting to get their arms around what printed batteries can do with their flexible form factor.
“People are coming to us because they need thin, flexible form factors,” Ream added. “Coin cells are currently cheaper, but you have to consider the cost of integration as well as their non-flexible form factor. Our carbon-zinc technology is environmentally friendly and very disposable, which is another key advantage.”
“Smart cards with displays offer many advantages, including the ability to provide secure transactions and one-time passwords,” Ream noted. “While the majority of the microprocessors in display cards are 3V, we are working very closely with semiconductor manufacturers in the area of 1.5V.”
Paper Battery Company is currently at the alpha prototype stage in development of structural sheets that store energy – the PowerWrapperT platform, according to Shreefal Mehta, CEO, Paper Battery Company.
“We deliver high bursts of energy locally when needed – acting more as a high power pulse unit that could complement thin film batteries,” said Mehta. “An analog power driver in flexible thin sheet form is now available locally at the site of usage. Competitive advantages include an ability to deliver high voltages and high power in a scalable, thin, flexible form factor and a differentiated low cost, high volume roll-to-roll print-forming production process.”
Future of the Printed Batteries Market
All in all, printed battery manufacturers are optimistic about the future.
“We are still in the early market adoption stage,” Ream said. “Our technology has been fully ready to go for years, and it has taken time for other technologies to merge that work with our technology. We are starting to see some movements in areas such as greeting cards, with the development of very thin speakers, and once that occurs, we will have a full solution. Meanwhile, we are continuing to enhance our features, making our batteries thinner and more flexible and adding peak power, and this will be a game changer next year.”
“Long term, our technology can be integrated onto the same substrate with other printed electronic applications such as RFID circuits and printed displays, and that’s when you get the lowest cost of integration and best economies of scale,” Ream concluded. “Printed circuits, printed batteries and printed displays are here and now, and we need to lead designers to think about the possibilities.”
“The first commercial applications were available already in 2010, and we expect 2011 will be a year of early breakthrough,” Huvila said. “Much depends on big electronics companies, if they want to put more resources and efforts in the development of PE applications.”
“It is expected that the market for printed batteries will grow fast, starting with some pilot products that will attract the customers,” Peitl-Steinert said.
“More and more, there will be a marketplace shift to printed batteries,” Corey concluded. “There are limitations, but I see printed batteries as a way to drive scale while driving costs down. Simplify the process, reduce the costs and create the necessary scale and quality – that is what is needed to drive this market.”
Photo courtesy of Enfucell Ltd. |
iRAP, Inc.’s report, “Rechargeable and Non-Rechargeable, Flexible, Thin-Film Batteries: A Global Industry and Market Analysis,” released in November 2010, states the thin-film battery market will reach $600 million by 2015. The key, of course, is finding ideal applications and working with designers and brand owners on these projects.
Meanwhile, companies such as Blue Spark Technologies, Enfucell, VARTA Microbattery, Solicore, Power ID and Power Paper, among many others, are advancing their respective technologies.
“Interest in printed batteries has been growing since the end of 2009, and we have done our first commercial shipments this fall,” said Risto Huvila, COO, global customer operations, Enfucell Ltd., which uses rotary screen printing for its batteries. “It seems that major brands who ceased their development projects late 2008 are now returning.”
“As printed electronics gain more and more importance, it can be expected that a lot of printed objects will need an energy supply,” said Sonja Peitl-Steinert, corporate communications and corporate marketing/PR, VARTA Microbattery GmbH, a leading international manufacturer of OEM and retail batteries. “Therefore, the interest is quite high from several application fields in printed batteries.”
“There is huge interest in printed batteries,” said Matt Ream, vice president marketing, Blue Spark Technologies. “We are seeing a lot of interest in smart cards incorporating printed displays, battery-assisted, passive (BAP) RFID, RF-enabled sensors, interactive printed media and packaging, and medical and cosmeceutical devices, where we are starting to see some traction.”
Dave Corey, CEO of Solicore, Inc. presented a very positive outlook for the embedded power marketplace that is in direct alignment with the market analysts prediction of impressive growth within the thin film battery space. Solicore is noted for its Flexion product portfolio of advanced 3 volt ultra-thin, flexible, lithium polymer batteries driving powered cards (debit, credit, access/identity and gift card), RFID battery assisted passive tags, as well as a variety of micro and medical devices. All core markets will demand large scale/low cost solutions.
“Within our three core market segments – powered cards, medical and RFID powered solutions – we are experiencing strong growth, as businesses are deploying solutions at a record pace. It is my impression that the tipping point came in June, and it is now translating into increased orders and exceptional projections for 2011 and beyond,” said Corey.
Advantages of Thin-Film Batteries
The ability to manufacture disposable, flexible power sources at low cost is a key driver in the potential for printed batteries.
Photo courtesy of Blue Spark Technologies. |
“The big advantage for a thin film battery is the flexible design,” said Peitl-Steinert. “A change of size and electrical properties can easily be achieved compared to common known battery technologies.”
“The advantages seem to be mainly related to environmental as well as skin irritation and allergy issues, but also form factors, like size, flexibility, lightness etc.,” Huvila said. “The major limitations relate to the industry, as the end applications are not yet there in a big scale.”
Key Markets for Thin-Film Batteries
There are plenty of applications where low-cost flexible batteries and power supplies could have a huge impact.
Solicore has focused on key markets where the attributes of their battery align with the requirements and demands of the marketplace.
“For us, the four criteria essential to success are being thin, flexible, safe and tolerant of elevated temperatures. The standard hot lamination process to create a credit card today demands temperatures in the range of 135°C,” Corey noted. “Our battery chemistry has been designed and developed to survive production at these temperature levels in order that existing industry production standards could be maintained. This is in addition to our support of other manufacturing processes, including cold, warm, and injection molding encapsulation, ensures that market acceptance and scaled production can be maintained.”
“We can see a fast-growing interest in the area of printed displays and labels, and micro sensors especially in the medical field. Also semi-passive BAP RFID is moving, but not too fast,” Huvila noted.
“We expect that printed batteries will be used first of all in energy autarkic sensors, advertisement items, smart card applications and active RFID tags,” Peitl-Steinert said. “Due to the fact that this is a new battery technology there could be even new market segments or applications which we do not see today.”
“The BAP RFID market is ramping up the quickest,” Ream said. “We are working with multiple customers who are developing products using our battery technology. We see enormous potential for these applications. Interactive packaging is also making headway, as consumer product goods managers are starting to get their arms around what printed batteries can do with their flexible form factor.
“People are coming to us because they need thin, flexible form factors,” Ream added. “Coin cells are currently cheaper, but you have to consider the cost of integration as well as their non-flexible form factor. Our carbon-zinc technology is environmentally friendly and very disposable, which is another key advantage.”
“Smart cards with displays offer many advantages, including the ability to provide secure transactions and one-time passwords,” Ream noted. “While the majority of the microprocessors in display cards are 3V, we are working very closely with semiconductor manufacturers in the area of 1.5V.”
Paper Battery Company is currently at the alpha prototype stage in development of structural sheets that store energy – the PowerWrapperT platform, according to Shreefal Mehta, CEO, Paper Battery Company.
“We deliver high bursts of energy locally when needed – acting more as a high power pulse unit that could complement thin film batteries,” said Mehta. “An analog power driver in flexible thin sheet form is now available locally at the site of usage. Competitive advantages include an ability to deliver high voltages and high power in a scalable, thin, flexible form factor and a differentiated low cost, high volume roll-to-roll print-forming production process.”
Future of the Printed Batteries Market
All in all, printed battery manufacturers are optimistic about the future.
“We are still in the early market adoption stage,” Ream said. “Our technology has been fully ready to go for years, and it has taken time for other technologies to merge that work with our technology. We are starting to see some movements in areas such as greeting cards, with the development of very thin speakers, and once that occurs, we will have a full solution. Meanwhile, we are continuing to enhance our features, making our batteries thinner and more flexible and adding peak power, and this will be a game changer next year.”
“Long term, our technology can be integrated onto the same substrate with other printed electronic applications such as RFID circuits and printed displays, and that’s when you get the lowest cost of integration and best economies of scale,” Ream concluded. “Printed circuits, printed batteries and printed displays are here and now, and we need to lead designers to think about the possibilities.”
“The first commercial applications were available already in 2010, and we expect 2011 will be a year of early breakthrough,” Huvila said. “Much depends on big electronics companies, if they want to put more resources and efforts in the development of PE applications.”
“It is expected that the market for printed batteries will grow fast, starting with some pilot products that will attract the customers,” Peitl-Steinert said.
“More and more, there will be a marketplace shift to printed batteries,” Corey concluded. “There are limitations, but I see printed batteries as a way to drive scale while driving costs down. Simplify the process, reduce the costs and create the necessary scale and quality – that is what is needed to drive this market.”