What if you could lighten your laptop by 3 or 4 pounds, get rid of bulky batteries or drive a truly economical electric powered car?

Thin film batteries are getting more attention today for good reason: they are lightweight, have high power-density, are rechargeable and can be formed into almost any shape.

Initially developed for space and defense, thin film batteries are moving into the commercial market. Many companies are looking at this technology for microcircuits, RFID labels, photovoltaics, fuel cells and many other applications.

These batteries are made of printed film forming layers for the anode, diode and others. Lithium-ion is the material of choice but many researches at universities, national labs and in the private sector around the world are looking at new compounds and design variations. Today, output is measured in single volts and milliamp ranges but these will change as new materials are developed. Many start-up companies are looking to develop thin film batteries further. Strategic mergers and acquisitions are already taking place, even at this early stage. Some companies to watch for in the future are Rolltronics, Cymbet, Voltaflex, GSI, SCI and Rentech in the U.S. In Japan, Kanebo is viewed as the thin film battery leader, holding several key patents.

Thin film batteries have the potential to revolutionize the industry holding promise to replace bulky and heavy batteries with a lightweight, rechargeable power source that can be form-fitted to the product design.