Coin cell operates at 85 ºC for IoT and automotive designs.

Business news | December 30, 2019

By Nick Flaherty

NGK Insulators is starting mass production of its lithium ion coin cell batteries for devices in the Internet of Things (IoT), as well shipping samples of a version that operates at 85 ºC.

NGK, based in Nagoya, Japan, has shopped samples of the EnerCera Coin samples to numerous device manufacturers. EnerCera Coin has a small and thin body using its Crystal Oriented Ceramic Plate as electrodes and supports high-temperature mounting on circuit boards with reflow soldering and operates from -40 ºC to 60 ºC to match the requirements of IoT designs. To achevie this, NGK focused on the high thermal stability of its semi-solid state battery structure. With this structure, small amounts of liquid electrolyte are infused into multi-layered ceramic battery materials.

This approach allowed NGK to develop a higher heat resistance type cell that can operate at 85 ºC and that it will start shipping samples of this cell. This cell is the world’s first lithium (Li)-ion secondary battery capable of operating reliabily at this temperature, which is a challenge for lithium ion cells.

The high heat resistance type cell has the performance capability to maintain at least 95 percent of its capacity even after 1,000 charging and discharging cycles at 85 85 ºC. As such, it is optimal for use in automotive equipment, factory automation applications, and outdoor IoT devices.

EnerCera Coin will be available in three cell types. There will be a high capacity type cell and a high heat resistance type cell for circuit boards, mountable with reflow soldering, as well as a high power type that is currently under development for use in wearable devices such as smartwatches.

www.ngk-insulators.com/en/info/index.html