Ilika achieves production-ready process for mini solid-state batteries

AIM-listed Ilika has established factory production techniques for its tiny solid-state lithium ion batteries that it aims to sell into the fast-growing wearables and internet-of-things (IoT) markets.In a pilot production process at its Southampton facility, Ilika's engineers have begun to create fully formed li-ion battery structures for the first time in a production process that could be replicated at mass volumes and produce batteries at an attractive cost.Li-ion batteries are widely used in consumer electronics including in smartphones and tablets, but Ilika claims its product has significant safety and performance benefits over existing commercially available batteries.Not only are solid-state lithium ion batteries non-flammable, faster charging and longer lasting, but Ilika has managed to stack these on top of one another creating what it said was a 'world first'.While the pilot is still being optimised to maximise the yield and performance of the batteries, the company said it remained on track to release batches of batteries and performance data for evaluation by commercial partners in 2015.Chief executive Graeme Purdy said: "This announcement demonstrates the relentless progress being made by our operational team."Commercial pull from OEM partners continues to be broad and strong, with the increased capacity of micro-batteries being widely acknowledged as an important enabler to increase the market uptake of wearable and autonomous technologies."The market for wearable devices and the IoT, a concept where all objects will be connected to the internet and to other connected devices, is sizeable and expected to grow rapidly.House broker Numis suggested the progress announced was encouraging and analyst Nick James said he believes Ilika is "increasingly well positioned to address a very large market opportunity of batteries for IoT devices, wearables and potentially the wider market as a Li-ion replacement in consumer electronics including smartphones/tablets (currently a $23bn market)".James expects further progress in terms of production and establishment of commercial partnerships to be made during the course of the year. Ilika Plc