Gamingdeputy reported on June 17 that according to the Financial Times, Japan's TDK announced that it has made a breakthrough in the materials used in small all-solid-state batteries, which is expected to significantly improve the performance of devices ranging from wireless headphones to smart watches.The new material has an energy density (i.e., the amount of energy that can be stored in a specific space) of 1,000 Wh/L, which is approximately 100 times that of TDK's current mass-produced batteries.
According to the Apple supplier, competitors have also been advancing the development of small all-solid-state batteries since their launch in 2020, with existing products offering an energy density of 50 Wh/L, compared to about 400 Wh/L for traditional liquid electrolyte rechargeable coin cells.
“We believe that our newly developed all-solid-state battery material can make a significant contribution to society's energy transition. We will continue to work towards early commercialization,” said Noboru Saito, CEO of TDK.
The battery developed this time will be made of all-ceramic materials, including an oxide-based solid electrolyte and a lithium alloy negative electrode. TDK said that the battery's high power storage capacity will enable it to achieve a smaller size and longer life, while the oxide material provides high stability, thereby improving safety.The battery technology is designed to be used in small batteries that can replace existing coin-type batteries and are used in watches and other small electronic devices.
The breakthrough represents an important step in the development of all-solid-state battery technology, which industry experts believe has the potential to revolutionize energy storage, but also faces huge challenges in large-scale mass production, especially in large-size batteries.
According to Gamingdeputy, compared with traditional liquid electrolyte batteries, all-solid-state batteries have the potential advantages of being safer, lighter, potentially cheaper in the future, longer life and faster charging.
The company said the ceramic material used by TDK meant that larger batteries would be more fragile.This means that overcoming the technical challenges of making batteries for cars or even smartphones will not be possible in the foreseeable future.Kevin Shang, senior research analyst at data analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, said:The application of solid oxide batteries in smartphones also faces challenges such as “properties that are not conducive to mechanical processing” and difficulty in large-scale mass production.
Industry experts believe that the most meaningful application of all-solid-state batteries may be electric vehicles, as it can make electric vehicles have a longer range. Japanese companies are at the forefront of promoting the commercialization of the technology, with Toyota aiming to commercialize it in 2027, Nissan aiming for 2028, and Honda aiming for the end of 2030.
However, skepticism remains about the much-anticipated technology, especially the large batteries needed to make electric vehicles a reality. Zeng Yuqun, founder and CEO of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd., the world’s largest electric vehicle battery maker, told the Financial Times in March that all-solid-state batteries have insufficient performance, poor durability and safety issues.
Founded in 1935, TDK became a household name in the 1960s and 1970s with its cassette tapes. The company has extensive experience in battery materials and technologies, and currently holds 50% to 60% of the global market share for small batteries such as those used in smartphones, and is aiming to take the lead in the mid-sized battery market, including energy storage devices and large electronic devices such as drones.
TDK plans to start providing samples of its new battery prototype to customers from next year and hopes to move to mass production later.
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