

It is manufactured using printing technology, which means it can be thinner (around 500 μm) but have an increased surface area than other batteries. It can be produced cheaply, is rechargeable, and can also be laminated. During the development process the group produced two types of prototype, with output voltages of 2 V and 4 V at ambient temperature.

Lithium-polymer batteries evolved in the mid 1990s from lithium-ion batteries, which have a lithium electrolyte held within an organic solvent. In the polymer batteries the electrolyte is contained within a polymer substrate such as polyethylene oxide. The polymer batteries cost less to produce and resist damage better than the lithium-ion batteries.

The Advanced Materials Innovation Center exists to bring together academics and researchers from the private sector together to encourage innovation. The lithium-polymer battery project is funded by Japan's Ministry of Education and Science Industry-Academia-government Cooperation Project. Participants in the project include scientists from Kureha Elastomer Co. Ltd., Toppan Printing Co. Ltd., Mie University, and Suzuka National College of Technology, among others. (PhysOrg)