IDTechEx Research: The Road to Commercialization of Thin-Film, Flexible & Printed Batteries

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The Road to Commercialization of
Thin-film, Flexible and Printed
Batteries
Dr Xiaoxi He
x.he@idtechex.com

Dr Xiaoxi He covers energy storage, printed electronics and photovoltaics at IDTechEx. Xiaoxi
obtained her PhD in Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, where she worked on organic
photovoltaics. Prior to that, she completed her MSc at the University of Ulm (Germany) on advanced
materials and her BSc degree at Shandong University (China). Xiaoxi has authored several
publications in leading peer-reviewed journals. Xiaoxi speaks Chinese (Mandarin) and English.
Xiaoxi brings a wealth of technical expertise to IDTechEx. She has focused extensively on the
technology and commercial aspects of thin, flexible or printed batteries, and is now an opinion
leader in the industry. She also leads our coverage and analysis of high-tech innovation in China,
regularly interviewing the key Chinese innovators and speaking at key conferences.
Xiaoxi has extensive consulting experience. She has helped our clients to form a technology
ecosystem to commercialize a wearable product that requires a battery technology with a special
form factor. She has also helped our clients identify how their nanomaterial can deliver value in
advanced and post lithium ion battery technologies. She is now focused on key innovations that
enable flexible personal computing devices.
Technology Analyst
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 812 300x.he@idtechex.com
Dr Xiaoxi He

Various thin, flexible and printed batteries
Image source: ProLogium, STMicroelectronics, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Excellatron, Jenax, Theresa Chong/MEDILL, Stanford University, Imprint Energy, Samsung SDI, LG Chem, Arizona State University, Showa Denko Packaging, Enfucell, ilika, Imprint Energy, Blue Spark, Panasonic, Flexel.

Focusing angles of next-generation batteries
These terms focuses on different aspects that differentiated from traditional batteries.
There are some overlaps meaning a battery may have several features
Thin
• Based on battery
thickness
• E.g. thin-film battery
Micro- and Large-area
• Based on footprint
• E.g. micro-battery,
large-area battery
Flexible
• Based on the
mechanical properties
• E.g. flexible,
stretchable, foldable,
rollable and bendable
batteries
Novel Form Factor
• Based on form
factors
• E.g. needle
battery
Transparent
• Based on optical
properties
• E.g. transparent
battery
Printed
• Based on
manufacturing
method
• E.g. printed
battery
Post and Advanced
Lithium-Ion
• based on material
selection
• E.g. solid-state
battery, silicon
anode, lithium-
sulfur, etc.

Future Direction of Battery Development
Moment of directional change
Further R&D of new materials,
chemistries and battery systems,
as well as increasing existing
battery performance
• Reduce energy consumption
• Develop charging methods such
as wireless charging, rapid
charging, integration with other
energy harvesting, etc.
New applications:
Enabled by battery cost
reduction
Emerging market:
When special features are
required that conventional
batteries do not

Application market roadmap
IoT, MEMS, CMOS
memories, Medical
implantable
Smart cards, Skin
patch, RFID
Wearables, E-textile,
Medical device
Smartphone, Tablet,
Power tool, Toy
Transport
Large-scale energy
storage
Capacity range
1 mAh 10 mAh 100 mAh 1 Ah 100 Ah > 1 kAh
Important features
• Rechargeable
• Small footprint,many
micro-batteries
• Long life time
• Rapid discharge
• Tend to incorporate
with energy
harvesting
• Can be both
disposable and
rechargeable
• Laminar and thin,
some with special
form factor
• Relatively low power
• Cost sensitive
• High energy density
for small volume
• Long working hours
• Flexible, stretchable
or thin, some with
special form factor
• Light-weight and
small volume
• Long working hours
• Some with special
form factors
• High power
• Safe
• Reliable
• High power
• High capacity
• Cost advantage
• Long life time
• Reliable
• High capacity
Technology Status
Small volume
production
Available, mostly
customized
Prototypes available Research to prototype Research Very early stage

Mismatch between technology push and market pull
• Development of printed electronics
• Development of other flexible
components for wearable and
medical applications
• Discovery of new materials for
electrodes, electrolyte, current
collectors and packaging, etc.
• Development of new
manufacturing methods including
printing techniques
• New device structural designs
Technology Push
• Electronic gadgets are getting
smaller, thinner and lighter,
requiring new power source
• With the development of wearable
technologies, energy sources
used for wearable devices are
becoming one of the major
problems
• Medical/fitness devices are
seeking batteries with special form
factors and features.
• Internet of Things require billions
of connected devices. Thinner and
smaller batteries are needed
accordingly
Market Pull

Market analysis and strategies
q Technology driven
q Giants lead,start-ups follow
q Tailored solutionscommon
q Not competingin price level butdifferentiation
Business
model
Material
supplier
Technology
licenser
Component
provider
Integrator

Market Growth
• Niche markets now and may be dominated by wearables, medical & cosmetics and portable electronics in the
future
Description Angle
• Footprint (micro-battery or large-area battery Thickness (thin-film, bulky)
• Mechanical properties (flexibility, bendability, rollability, strechability, foldability, etc.)
• Optical properties (Transparency)
• Manufacturing methods (e.g. printing)
• Technologies (solid-state battery, etc.)
Technologies
• Lithium ion & coin cells (well-established)
• Lithium ion with special form factor and flexibility (Large companies’ approach)
• Thin-film lithium (emerging)
• Printed (High volume potential)
• Innovative technologies including stretchable, woven, structural (not well proven)
Challenges
• Limited capacity due to the limited energy density and existing material systems, Power density, Degradation,
Safety, Costs, Heavy initial investment, Product positioning, Lack of standards
Business Model
• Material supplier, licensing the technology, component provider, integrator, etc.
Key points to take away

Flexible, Printed and Thin Film Batteries 2016-
2026: Technologies, Forecasts, Players
Applications in wearable devices, healthcare and cosmetics, Internet of
Things, RFID, smart packaging and more
This report provides detailed technology assessment, critical and quantitative
analysis and benchmarking. Then- year market forecasts are segmented by
application and technology type, and detailed interview- based business intelligence
and profiles on key players and large end- users.

Copyright © 1999-2016 IDTechEx. Use in accordance with distribution licence | www.IDTechEx.com slide
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1111
Offices:
USA: + 1 617 577 7890 Germany: + 49 3991 669 3591
services.
Research
Consulting
Events
Dr Xiaoxi He
x.he@idtechex.com

IDTechEx Research: The Road to Commercialization of Thin-Film, Flexible & Printed Batteries

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IDTechEx Research: The Road to Commercialization of Thin-Film, Flexible & Printed Batteries