TDK Corp. recently developed a material for its next-generation solid-state battery with an energy density about 100 times greater than the current version.
The Japanese company already supplies batteries that go into iPhones and other Apple devices, so there’s hope this breakthrough eventually will benefit Apple Watch and AirPods.
TDK battery breakthrough: A game-changer?
Our mobile lives depend on batteries. They sit at the heart of our iPhones, MacBooks and so many other digital devices. So any significant improvement in battery technology potentially could bring real change.
That’s why it’s such a big deal that TDK developed a solid-state battery with an energy density of 1,000 watt-hours per liter. While that’s 100x greater than the company’s current version, rivals make small “coin cell” batteries that go up to 50 Wh/L. For reference, typical Li-Ion batteries used in smartphones and laptops today offer about a quarter to a third of the energy density of the TDK breakthrough.
Tiny, powerful batteries for very small electronics
TDK’s new batteries use an oxide-based solid electrolyte and lithium alloy anodes. That makes them safe enough to use in direct contact with human skin.
“TDK’s technology is aimed at a solution that can be utilized in various wearable devices, such as wireless earphones, hearing aids and even smartwatches, with the goal of replacing existing coin cell batteries,” the company said Monday in a statement.
A battery with much higher energy density might let AirPods run for days and days on a single charge. Or the breakthrough battery tech could make Apple Watch much slimmer — a goal Apple already began working toward.
However, it’ll be some time before the enhanced batteries show up in either product. So far, this is a breakthrough in the laboratory — not on the factory floor.
“TDK will strive to develop the battery cells and package structure design and advance toward mass production,” the company promised.
