Flexible Thin Film Batteries - A Global Technology, Industry and Market Analysis

Abstract

Four major applications are discussed in this report, which will create most of the market for thin-film products over the next five years. These are SmartCards, RFID tags, implantable medical devices, and microelectronic devices, flexible displays and E-papers.

The range of possible applications for these batteries derives from their important advantages as compared to conventional battery technologies. They can be made in virtually any shape and size to meet the requirements of each application. The batteries are rechargeable, which means their size need be no larger than is required to satisfy the energy requirements on a single cycle, thus reducing cost and weight, which in itself may give birth to new applications. The report focuses on thin-film batteries (thicknesses below 0.6 mm) that can be used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), microrobots and microsensors, and can also be printed on integrated circuits (ICs) like any other electronic components.

Production will be low-cost and high-volume. These batteries can be manufactured in any size, shape, voltage, or power capacity needed. Thin-film batteries (TFB) are positioned to become the next generation of lithium batteries for portable electronic applications. Major applications include smart cards and smart tags, single-use health and medical devices, and multimedia enhancements for entertainment items, novelties and packaging.

The iRAP study focuses on thin-film batteries and products, providing market data about the size and growth of the thin-film battery applications segments and new developments, including a detailed patent analysis, company profiles and industry trends. The report provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the market in North America, Europe, Japan, China, India, Korea and the rest of the world (ROW) for thin-film batteries and potential future business opportunities.

The objectives include thorough coverage of the underlying economic issues driving the thin-film battery business as well as assessments of new, advanced thin-film batteries. Also covered are legislative pressures for more safety and environmental protection, as well as users' expectations for economical thin-film batteries.

Major findings of this report are:

• The thin-film batteries market is an attractive and still-growing multimillion-dollar market characterized by very high production volumes of thin-film batteries that must be extremely reliable and low in cost.
• In 2006, the global market for flexible thin-film batteries has reached $41 million and will increase to $230 million by 2011 with an annual average growth rate of 41.1%.
• From 2006 to 2011, medical implantables will show the highest annual average growth rate (AAGR) reaching 58.4%, followed by mircoelectronic devices, flexible papers, cosmetics and E-papers at an AAGR of 46.1%, SmartCards with 37.9% and RFID tags with 35%.
• Regionally, North America captured about 61% of the market in 2006, followed by Japan at 19% and Europe at 17%.
• More than 20 companies and institutions worldwide are active in the field of thin-film batteries.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

• STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
• REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
• CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY
• SCOPE AND FORMAT
• METHODOLOGY
• INFORMATION SOURCES
• TO WHOM THE STUDY CATERS
• AUTHOR' S CREDENTIALS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL MARKET SIZE / PERCENT SHARE FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES,2006 AND 2011
• SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY APPLICATION 2006 AND 2011

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

• SOLID-STATE THIN-FILM BATTERIES
• TFB APPLICATIONS
• BACKGROUND
• INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
• KEY IMPACT OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES
• COMPETITIVE INNOVATION TRENDS
  • RESEARCH TRENDS IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES
• INCENTIVES AND CURRENT INDUSTRY TRENDS
• INDUSTRY DYNAMICS AND GLOBAL MARKET
  • MARKET ACCORDING TO MATERIAL TYPES AND TECHNOLOGIES
    • TABLE 1 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH 2011
• GLOBAL PERCENTAGE SHARES FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY TECHNOLOGY, 2006 AND 2011
  • MARKET ACCORDING TO APPLICATIONS
    • MARKET ACCORDING TO APPLICATIONS (CONTINUED)
    • TABLE 2 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2011
    • FIGURE 2 PERCENTAGE SHARE OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY APPLICATION IN 2006 AND 2011

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

• TABLE 3 TYPICAL THICKNESSES OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES IN 2006
• TABLE 4 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES
• TABLE 4 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES (CONTINUED)
• TABLE 4 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES (CONTINUED)
• TABLE 4 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES (CONTINUED)
• TABLE 4 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES (CONTINUED)
• TABLE 4 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES (CONTINUED)

THIN-FILM BATTERY THEORY

• TABLE 5 COMPARISON OF BATTERY PERFORMANCES
• MANUFACTURING OF THE THIN-FILM BATTERY
  • SOLID-ELECTROLYTE LI-ION THIN-BATTERY TECHNOLOGY
    • CONSTRUCTION
    • POLYMER FILM SUBSTRATE FOR THIN, FLEXIBLE PROFILE
    • CHARACTERISTICS
      • HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURE
      • LONG CYCLE LIFE
      • DISCHARGE CAPACITIES AND PROFILES
      • UNIQUE PROPRIETARY PASSIVATION BARRIER AND PACKAGING SOLUTION
      • HIGH POWER AND ENERGY DENSITY, SPECIFIC POWER AND ENERGY
      • HIGH RATE CAPABILITY
  • SOLID-POLYMER-ELECTROLYTE LITHIUM BATTERIES
    • CONSTRUCTION
      • CONSTRUCTION (CONTINUED)
        • FIGURE 3 CONSTRUCTION OF LITHIUM-POLYMER THIN-FILM BATTERY
      • CHARACTERISTICS
    • MANGENESE-ZINC-OXIDE-BASED CATHODE USING SOLID ELECTROLYTES
      • CONSTRUCTION
      • CHARACTERISTICS
• APPLICATIONS
  • RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAGS (RFIDS)
  • SMARTCARDS
  • IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES
    • IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES (CONTINUED)
  • MICROELECTRONICS DEVICES
• CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES
  • SOLID-POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL
    • BASE POLYMER MATERIAL
      • FIRST POLYMER GROUP -- IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS
    • BASE POLYMER / METAL SALT INTERMEDIATE MATERIAL
      • SECOND POLYMER GROUP -- MECHANICALLY STRONG / NON-IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS
  • POWER PAPER
  • COMPARISON OF CURRENT MATERIALS
    • TABLE 6 COMPARISON OF FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES MADE BY THREE MANUFACTURERS
    • TABLE 7 KEY SUPPLIERS OF COMPONENTS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES IN 2006
  • EMERGING MATERIALS USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES
    • TABLE 8 POSITIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY-BASED ENERGY-STORAGE COMPANIES IN THIN-BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IN 2006
• CHARACTERISTICS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES
  • CHARACTERISTICS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES (CONTINUED)
• INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND MARKETS
  • INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND MARKETS (CONTINUED)
    • TABLE 9 COMPANY PRODUCT REFERENCE OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES
    • TABLE 10 TOP MANUFACTURERS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES IN 2006
• PARTNERSHIPS AND CONSOLIDATIONS
  • TABLE 11 ACQUISITION DEALS AMONG MANUFACTURERS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES DURING 2000 TO 2006
• GLOBAL MARKET AND REGIONAL SHARES
  • TABLE 12 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKETS FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY REGION THROUGH 2011
  • FIGURE 4 REGIONAL PERCENTAGES OF MARKET SHARE FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES IN 2006 AND 2011

PATENTS AND PATENT ANALYSIS

• LIST OF PATENTS
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN AMBIENT ENERGY BATTERY OR CAPACITOR RECHARGE SYSTEM
  • LONG-LIFE THIN-FILM BATTERY AND FABRICATION METHOD
  • DEVICE ENCLOSURES AND DEVICES WITH INTEGRATED BATTERIES THIN-LAYER ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WITH SELF-FORMED
  • SEPARATOR
  • LOW-TEMPERATURE FABRICATION OF THIN-FILM ENERGY-STORAGE DEVICES
  • METHOD OF CONTINUOUS PROCESSING OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES AND LIKE DEVICES
  • METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A THIN-FILM BATTERY
  • SOLID-STATE-ACTIVITY-ACTIVATED BATTERY DEVICE AND METHOD APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THIN-FILM ELECTROLYTE
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THIN-FILM ELECTROLYTE
  • FUNCTIONALLY IMPROVED BATTERY AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
  • THIN-FILM BATTERY
    • THIN-FILM BATTERY AND ELECTROLYTE THEREOF
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED-BATTERY DEVICES
  • MANUFACTURE OF FLEXIBLE, THIN-LAYER ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL
  • AUTHENTICATED CARDS
  • THIN-FILM BATTERY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING A MICROBATTERY
  • STRUCTURE OF THIN-FILM LITHIUM MICROBATTERIES
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN MIXED-MODE INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
  • BATTERY WITH TRENCH STRUCTURE AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF
  • METHOD OF PRODUCING A THIN-FILM BATTERY ANODE
  • METHOD OF PRODUCING A THIN-FILM BATTERY
  • METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A THIN-FILM LITHIUM BATTERY BY DIRECT DEPOSITION
  • METHOD OF PRODUCING A THIN-FILM BATTERY HAVING A PROTECTIVE PACKAGING
• OTHER COMPANIES CONDUCTING RESEARCH
• PATENT ANALYSIS
  • TABEL 13 NUMBER OF U.S. PATENTS GRANTED TO COMPANIES MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM BATTERIES FROM 2002 THROUGH 2006
  • FIGURE 5 TOP COMPANIES IN TERMS OF U.S. PATENTS GRANTED FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES FROM THROUGH 2006
• INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW OF U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES
  • TABLE 14 NUMBER OF U.S. PATENTS GRANTED BY ASSIGNED COUNTRY/REGION FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES FROM JAN. 2001 TO 2006
  • INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW OF U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES (CONTINUED)

COMPANY PROFILES

• ALTAIRNANO, INC.
• CYMBET™ CORPORATION
• EXCELLATRON SOLID STATE LLC
• FRONT EDGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
• FRONT EDGE TECHNOLOGY, INC. (CONTINUED)
• GEOMATEC COMPANY LIMITED
• GEOMATEC COMPANY LIMITED
• TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
• INFINITE POWER SOLUTIONS, INC.
• ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
• LITHIUM POWER TECHNOLOGIES
• MPHASE TECHNOLOGIES INC
• MICRO POWER ELECTRONICS, INC.
• NANOENER, INC.
• NANOWIRE BATTERIES
• NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER.
• NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER (CONTINUED)
• NEC CORPORATION
• OAK RIDGE MICRO-ENERGY, INC.
• ORGANIC ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION (OE-A)
• POLAROID CORPORATION
• POWER PAPER LTD.
• SCI ENGINEERED MATERIALS
• SOLICORE, INC.
• TECHNOLOGY CENTRE TEKNIA LTD.
• THIN BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES INC
• VARTA MICROBATTERY GMBH

APPENDIX I

• BASIS OF MARKET FORECAST FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES USED BY PRODUCTS 2005, 2006 AND 2011
• BASIS OF MARKET FORECAST FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES USED BY PRODUCTS 2005, 2006 AND 2011 (CONTINUED)
• BASIS OF MARKET FORECAST FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES USED BY PRODUCTS 2005, 2006 AND 2011 (CONTINUED)
  • TABLE 15 BASIS OF MARKET FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES USED IN DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, 2006 AND 2011 (FORECAST)
  • TABLE 16 PERCENT MARKET VOLUME FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES USED BY TYPE, 2006 AND 2011
  • BROADER THIN FILM BATTERY MARKET
  • TABLE 17 MARKET SIZE OF NON MILITARY FLEXIBLE THIN FILM BATTERIES (0.3 MM TO 0.6 MM) V/S REST OF RIGID THIN FILM BATTERIES (THICKNESS MORE THAN 0.6 MM UPTO 4 MM), 2006-2011

• GLOBAL MARKET SIZE / PERCENT SHARE FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES, 2006 AND 2011
• TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH 2011
• TABLE 2: SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2011
• TABLE 3: TYPICAL THICKNESSES OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE THINFILM BATTERIES IN 2006
• TABLE 4: DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THIN-FILM BATTERIES
• TABLE 5: COMPARISON OF BATTERY PERFORMANCES
• TABLE 6: COMPARISON OF FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES MADE BY THREE MANUFACTURERS
• TABLE 7: KEY SUPPLIERS OF COMPONENTS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES IN 2006
• TABLE 8: POSITIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY-BASED ENERGY-STORAGE COMPANIES IN THIN-FILM BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IN 2006
• TABLE 9: COMPANY PRODUCT REFERENCE OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES
• TABLE 10: TOP MANUFACTURERS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES IN 2006
• TABLE 11: ACQUISITION DEALS AMONG MANUFACTURERS OF THIN-FILM BATTERIES DURING 2000 TO 2006
• TABLE 12: SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKETS FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY REGION THROUGH 2011
• TABLE 13: NUMBER OF U.S. PATENTS GRANTED TO COMPANIES MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM BATTERIES FROM 2002 THROUGH 2006
• TABLE 14: NUMBER OF U.S. PATENTS GRANTED BY ASSIGNED COUNTRY/REGION FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES FROM JAN. 2001 TO 2006
• TABLE 15: BASIS OF MARKET FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES USED IN DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, 2006 AND 2011 (FORECAST)
• TABLE 16: PERCENT MARKET VOLUME FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-FILM BATTERIES USED BY TYPE, 20206 AND 2011
• TABLE 17: MARKET SIZE OF NON MILITARY FLEXIBLE THIN FILM BATTERIES (0.3 MM TO 0.6 MM) V/S REST OF RIGID THIN FILM BATTERIES (THICKNESS MORE THAN 0.6 MM UPTO 4 MM), 2006-2011

• GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY APPLICATION 2006 AND 2011
  • FIGURE 1: GLOBAL PERCENTAGE SHARES FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY TECHNOLOGY, 2006 AND 2011
  • FIGURE 2: PERCENTAGE SHARE OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES BY APPLICATION IN 2006 AND 2011
  • FIGURE 3: CONSTRUCTION OF LITHIUM-POLYMER THIN-FILM BATTERY
  • FIGURE 4: REGIONAL PERCENTAGES OF MARKET SHARE FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES IN 2006 AND 2011
  • FIGURE 5: TOP COMPANIES IN TERMS OF U.S. PATENTS GRANTED FOR THIN-FILM BATTERIES FROM 2002 THROUGH 2006