India-Japan project develops paper-thin batteries

University researchers in Japan and India say they have developed a battery that uses nanotechnology to make it thinner than a piece of paper.

The one-micron thick, 5.2-volt batteries are expected to combine high energy density with thin film technology. The resulting technology could be used to power cell phones, laptops, or other devices.

The work is the result of a joint research project of the Kalasalingam University in Krishnankovil, India; the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai; and IMRAM Tohoku University in Japan.  India’s Department of Science and Technology assisted.

Kalasalingam University’s G. Hirankumar brought optimized cathode materials to Tohoku University’s laboratories for three months of joint development. Research is ongoing.

The thin-film battery market is expected to reach 10 billion units, or $11 billion, by 2012, according to a report by Wintergreen Research in 2006.

Companies seeking to develop thin-film batteries include Littleton, Colo.-based Infinite Power Solutions and Orlando, Fla.-based Planar Energy Devices (see Infinite Power raises $13M to ramp thin-film batteries and Planar Energy plans battery line for 2009).

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