What if our devices could last weeks without recharging?
The future of consumer technology is all about packing more power into smaller footprints, and Japan-based TDK Corporation, which provides parts for companies like Apple, is continuing this trend with what it calls a breakthrough in solid-state battery technology.
According to the Financial Times, TDK has created a solid-state battery, designed for small devices such as smartwatches, hearing aids, and wireless earphones, that is a stunning 100 times more energy-dense than the company’s current rechargeable solid-state batteries found in things like home sensors, bluetooth devices, and wearables.
“We believe that our newly developed material for solid-state batteries can make a significant contribution to the energy transformation of society,” TDK’s chief executive Noboru Saito told The Financial Times. “We will continue the development towards early commercialisation.”
Because it packs so much power in a small footprint, says Interesting Engineering, the battery will likely pave the way for ever-smaller devices with longer running times. Who knows? Battery life may soon be measured in weeks, rather than days.
However, whilst this battery breakthrough could be a big upgrade for small devices, the era of solid-state batteries in smartphones and electric cars is still a ways off. But it’s a future that’s quickly coming into view.