A team of Japanese researchers have developed a lithium polymer battery that can be produced using only printing technology. The team is led by Advanced Materials Innovation Center (AMIC) of Mie Industry and a Japan-based incorporated foundation (Enterprise Support Center – MIESC).
This lithium-polymer battery developed by the researchers is expected to be attached to a curved surface and to be used with a flexible solar battery or display. Unlike other batteries, the new printable lithium battery is much thinner (around 500 μm) and has an increased surface area. It is rechargeable, can be laminated and can be produced cheaply.
According to AMIC, when this battery is combined with a roll-to-roll production method, its costs can be reduced. The scientists have prototyped two types of batteries: one has an output voltage of about 4V and the other has an output voltage of about 2V, both at ambient temperature. The research project is a three-year project that will be ready in March 2011.
During 2010, the research group hopes to set numerical targets such as of the battery’s capacity, improve manufacturing technologies for commercial production and seek appropriate applications for it.
