The EnerCera battery is an ultra-thin and ultra small Li-ion rechargeable battery. A semi-solid-state battery developed using NGK’s original crystal oriented ceramic plate as electrodes, EnerCera achieves features that were difficult to incorporate together in existing Li-ion rechargeable batteries, such as high capacity, high output, high heat resistance, and long lifetime.
Due to its low internal resistance, EnerCera batteries can store incredibly small amounts of electricity and output large amounts of power when required, making them the ideal power source for environmental power generation (energy harvesting) and wireless power transfer (WPT). These technologies can be combined with EnerCera to create power supply systems for maintenance-free IoT devices that rely only on natural energy sources and which can be used repeatedly.
EnerCera can function as an energy storage device that offers the advantages of both a capacitor and a Li-ion rechargeable battery, thereby contributing to the implementation of self-sustaining IoT systems in society.
Lineup
Wide operating temperature range for use as a power source for chilled transport and outdoor IoT devices
EnerCera batteries are available in two types: EnerCera Pouch, an ultra-thin product with thickness of 0.45 mm and good bending resistance, and EnerCera Coin, a coin-shaped product with thickness of 1.3 to 2 mm suitable for mounting on circuit boards.
EnerCera Pouch products are available in three types—a high power type, a high heat resistance type, and a fast charging type—to accommodate a wide range of device designs. Both EnerCera Pouch and EnerCera Coin are available as ET Series products that exhibit high environmental resistance. Some models allow use even at temperatures as low as −40°C, while other models offer excellent float charging resistance, making them ideal for use in backup power supply systems. These products are ideal for applications involving cold chain temperature monitoring and as power sources for IoT devices installed outdoors.
Model Number
EC382704P-T
EC382704P-Hr
ET382704P-H
ET2016C-R
ET1210C-H
Appearance
Dimensions/Diameter (Without terminals)
38mm×27mm
20mm
12.5mm
Thickness (With terminals)
0.45mm
2.05mm
1.3mm
Nominal Capacity
27mAh (4.3V) 24mAh (4.2V)
20mAh
20mAh
25mAh
4mAh
Nominal Voltage
3.8V
2.3V
Charge
Charging Method
Constant Current (CC) – Constant Voltage (CV) charging
Constant Voltage (CV) charging (No current control required)
Charging Voltage
4.3V 4.2V
4.2V
2.7V
Standard Charge Current
13.5mA (4.3V) 12.0mA (4.2V)
10mA
-
Discharge
End Voltage
3.0V
1.5V
Standard Discharge Current*1
27mA (4.3V) 24mA (4.2V)
10mA
40mA
2.5mA
0.8mA
(Ref.) Peak Discharge Current*2
560mA
130mA
300mA
60mA
20mA
Bendability
Conforming to ISO/IEC10373-1 standard No deterioration after bending and torsion tests
-
Operation Temperature
Discharge: -20℃∼45℃ (Charge: 0℃∼45℃)
Discharge: -20℃∼60℃ (Charge: 0℃∼60℃)
-40℃∼70℃
-20℃*5∼105℃
Features
High Power
High heat resistance*3
Fast charging*4
Reflow soldering unapplicable [Applicable type under development]
Reflow soldering applicable*6
*1 Current with which nominal capacity can be used.
*2 Voltage drop is less than 0.5V with continuous discharge for 0.1 sec. (at 25℃)
*3 Compatible with hot lamination for IC card manufacturing.
*4 Can be charged from 0% to 80% capacity in 14min.
*5 From -40°C to 105°C for RTC backup applications.
*6 Recommended conditions Max.240°C × 1 time Please contact us for details.
IEC62133 certified.
Contents may be changed without notice.
EnerCera batteries are ultra-thin and compact lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that offer high heat resistance, safety (high reliability), high output, and long lifetime. The keys to imparting these properties were NGK’s crystal oriented ceramic electrode and semi-solid state battery technology developed in-house.
Crystal oriented ceramic electrode
Conventional Li-ion batteries use electrode active material powder, a conductivity aid, and an organic binder to bind them together to form the material for making electrodes. However, in this structure, the organic binder reacts with the electrolyte in high-temperature environments, resulting in reduced bonding strength and loss of electronic conductivity. As a result, conventional Li-ion batteries suffered from the disadvantages of having low heat resistance and being prone to degradation of battery performance.
Drawing on its proprietary ceramic sintering technologies, NGK developed the crystal oriented ceramic electrode, which allows sophisticated control of crystal orientation. The adoption of this crystal oriented ceramic electrode as the cathode for the EnerCera allows the lithium ions in the active material to travel faster, making it possible to create a high output battery with low resistance and high energy density. Furthermore, since EnerCera does not use an organic binder, it exhibits superior heat resistance even in high temperature environments. Combined, these features have enabled the success of EnerCera as an ultra-thin, ultra-small rechargeable battery with highly efficient power storage and output capabilities and heat resistance.
Semi-solid state battery
The EnerCera battery is a semi-solid state battery produced by infusing very small amounts of electrolyte into multilayer ceramic battery material. Since it contains no organic materials, and its ceramic plate is composed of only sintered electrode materials with trace amounts of electrolyte infused, EnerCera is a safe Li-ion rechargeable battery that has minimal risk of overheating, catching fire, and exploding.
Features of EnerCera
Can be recharged and used even when over-discharged
Less susceptible to performance degradation, even in the case of self-discharge voltage drop
Maintains same performance prior to over-discharge when recharged again
Capable of storing tiny amounts of electrical power
Low resistance and low self-discharge
Ideal for environmental power generation applications, including solar cells and wireless power supply
Reduces the time required for recharging and battery replacement
Long lifetime, resistant to floating aging
Less deterioration due to floating
Optimal power source solution for applications that require constant high voltage in the fully charged state, such as backup and environmental power generation systems
Ultra-thin, ultra-small, yet high capacity
Battery capacity is approximately 1.5 to 2 times that of commercially available rechargeable batteries of the same dimensions.
Can be used in limited spaces
High output suitable for a wide range of wireless communications
High current output with less than half the resistance compared to commercial batteries of the same dimensions
Supplies current of several tens to several hundred of milliamps to support a wide range of wireless communications
Ideal batteries for wearable devices
Extremely low risk of overheating, catching fire, or exploding
Optimal power source for wearable devices used in direct contact with the human body
With its thickness of 0.45 mm and bending resistance, EnerCera Pouch fits curved surfaces, making it an ideal solution as a thin sensor tag for logistics applications. The EnerCera Coin semi-solid state battery exhibits outstanding heat resistance with a capacity retention rate of more than 80% after 1,000 hours at 105°C in a fully charged state—conditions under which batteries are most vulnerable to degradation. This allows use in reflow soldering and other high-temperature processes, contributing to cost reductions in mass production processes.
Whitepaper by Reuters Events: Innovative Technologies Enabling Digital Transformation
This whitepaper features technology insights and real-world case-studies from a diverse set of industries including; Logistics, Healthcare, Smart Cities, Wearables and more, including:
NGK INSULATORS: Powering and empowering the IoT
SMK Corporation: Harvesting energy to beat the IoT battery drain
Ricoh USA, Inc. Group: Power for sensors in new worlds of operation