Ilika plc Start of solid-state battery pilot production (4800I)
March 26 2015 - 3:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMIKA
RNS Number : 4800I
Ilika plc
26 March 2015
Ilika plc
("Ilika" or the "Company")
Commencement of solid-state battery pilot production
Ilika (AIM: IKA), the accelerated materials innovation company,
announces commencement of pilot production of solid-state
batteries.
On 21 November 2014 the Company announced that The Rt Hon Greg
Clark MP, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, had
officially opened the pilot line for the production of solid-state
batteries in Southampton. Since then, the Company's technical team
has carried out a series of operational tests to ensure the
equipment meets the set of technical targets required for
solid-state battery production. Having deposited the constituent
materials required for forming batteries, the Company has now
progressed to depositing arrays of battery structures, as pictured
in the following link:
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4800I_-2015-3-25.pdf
The rate of deposition of materials, which is a key factor in
establishing the price point of the resulting batteries, has been
increased 10 fold relative to the rate of deposition of materials
previously achieved on the Company's development workflow over an
area 20 times larger, delivering a 200 fold productivity increase.
Deposition rates of 2 microns/hour, which compare favourably to
commercially available solid-state micro-batteries, have already
been achieved and significant increases in this rate are
anticipated as the pilot line's capabilities are tested
further.
In addition, discussions have progressed with potential partners
capable of manufacturing full production lines at industrial scale.
These equipment manufacturers indicate that deposition rates of up
to 1 micron/second could be expected for scaled-up production, a
rate which is already standard in analogous production lines used
to produce photovoltaic panels. At this deposition rate, Ilika's
solid-state batteries would be deposited over 3000 times faster
than commercially available solid-state micro-batteries.
Operational parameters of the pilot line are currently being
optimised to maximise the yield and performance of the batteries.
The Company continues to be on track to release batches of
batteries and performance data for evaluation by commercial
partners in 2015.
The scalable, stacked cell architecture, which Ilika can
produce, enables the simple fabrication of cells over a wide range
of sizes. Ilika intends initially to produce micro-battery
prototypes designed for powering wireless sensors, commonly
referred to as the "Internet of Things", which is a rapidly growing
segment expected to create an addressable market for
micro-batteries in excess of GBP1bn by 2017. The battery
architecture will subsequently be scaled-up, using the same process
but with faster fabrication rates, to produce devices suitable for
the largest markets for lithium ion batteries in wearables and
consumer electronics, including mobile phones.
Commenting on this latest development, Graeme Purdy, Ilika CEO,
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."
For more information contact:
Ilika plc www.ilika.com
Graeme Purdy, Chief Executive Tel: 023 8011 1400
Steve Boydell, Finance Director
Numis Securities Limited Tel: 020 7260 1000
Oliver Cardigan/ Adrian Trimmings
/
James Black
Walbrook PR Ltd Tel: 020 7933 8780 / ilika@walbrookpr.com
Lianne Cawthorne (Media Enquiries) Mob: 07584 391 303
Paul Cornelius (Investor Enquiries) Mob: 07827 879 460
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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