Toshiba Announces New Advanced Lithium Batteries
Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. (TAEC, San Jose, CA) announced the addition of advanced lithium batteries (ALB) to its line-up of rechargeable batteries. Combining the flexibility of lithium polymer technology with the high-energy density of traditional lithium-ion batteries, Toshiba claims that the new ALBs reduce the cell thickness to as low as 1mm. In addition, the ALB technology is maintained to decrease battery swelling to less than 0.1mm.
The ALBs come in an aluminum laminated film casing. Toshiba claims that the battery's wound electrode structures and specially-designed electrolytes increase its safety. The ALBs do not use metallic lithium. Toshiba's ALBs meet over-charge safety testing up to 12V under 3CmA rate, and oven testing up to 170 degrees C at 4.4V charge. The ALBs have a volumetric energy density of greater than 366 watt hour per liter (Wh/L) and a gravimetric energy greater than 172 watt hour per kilogram Wh/Kg. The operating temperature of the ALB ranges from -20 degrees to 60 degrees C, with temperature storage up to 90 degrees C. ALB cells also maintain up to 40 percent of their initial capacity at -20 degrees C.
The thin profile and high-discharge rate capability of Toshiba's ALBs make them suitable for cellular phones, global positioning systems, personal digital assistants, sub-notebooks, scanners, two-way pagers, wearable computers and all small portable applications. The ALB technology maintains 80 percent of initial capacity after 500 cycles. In addition, Toshiba's ALBs do not accumulate memory.
"As wireless and portable communications devices continue to decrease in size, the demand for batteries to meet small, reliable, high-performance solution requirements will increase," said Ritch Russ, director of business development for TAEC's battery division. "Toshiba has been manufacturing rechargeable batteries for a decade and we are committed to providing the market with the most advanced battery technology available."
Production of Toshiba's ALBs is already at 1.7 million battery cells per month. It is expected to reach 3 million cells per month by the end of this year. The company reports that one cell phone manufacturer and one handheld computer maker have already started using the technology.
