Ilika develops new battery technology

Ilika, a materials discovery company, has announced it has created a simple way of producing a mainstream high-performance solid-state cell battery.The new technology will lead to "significant improvements" for the company, it said. The new technology means the batteries will be safer, can charge up to six times faster and last four times longer than the current highest-performance lithium ion products. Graeme Purdy, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Solid-state batteries are currently commercially available, but are restricted to very small capacities, limiting their commercial impact. This technical innovation enables Ilika to make larger batteries suitable for mainstream battery applications, including consumer electronics." Ilika aims to start by producing micro-battery prototypes designed for powering wireless sensors, to create an addressable market for micro-batteries in excess of £1bn by 2017.WS Ilika Plc