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By HostSSD
As the demand for thin film batteries grows, so does the number of companies offering these specialized power sources. A thin film battery manufacturer must master materials science (electrolytes, electrodes), deposition methods (sputtering, evaporation, printing), and packaging (encapsulation). The landscape includes large electronics companies (Samsung, Panasonic, LG), specialized micro-battery firms (Cymbet, STMicroelectronics), and printed battery startups (Imprint Energy, Blue Spark). Each has different strengths: solid-state vs printed, flexible vs rigid, high capacity vs low cost. This article profiles the key players and provides guidance for selecting a supplier.
The broader Thin Film Battery Market is projected to grow from $2.45 billion in 2025 to $6.91 billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 10.91%. Key players are listed in the report. This article profiles them.
Categories of Thin Film Battery Manufacturers
| Category | Focus | Example Companies | Typical Capacity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid-state (sputtered) | High reliability, long life, low power (µAh-mAh) | Cymbet, STMicroelectronics, Front Edge, Infinite Power (defunct) | 5 µAh – 1 mAh | Very high. |
| Printable (zinc-based) | Low cost, disposable, flexible (mAh) | Imprint Energy, Blue Spark, Enfucell | 10-100 mAh | Low. |
| Large electronics companies | R&D; high-volume manufacturing (if market develops) | Samsung SDI, Panasonic, LG Chem, A123 Systems | Not yet commercial (mostly R&D). | |
| Specialty (lithium metal) | High energy, but not thin film? | Sion Power | N/A. |
Most commercial thin film batteries are from Cymbet and STMicroelectronics.
Profile: Cymbet Corporation (US)
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Technology: Solid-state (LiPON electrolyte), sputtered on silicon.
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Product line: EnerChip (SMD, LGA/BGA packages).
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Capacity: 5 µAh to 1 mAh.
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Voltage: 3.6-4.1V.
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Cycle life: 5,000+ (to 80%).
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Features: Reflow solderable, low self-discharge, wide temperature (-20°C to +80°C).
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Applications: RTC backup, medical implants, IoT sensors, energy harvesting.
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Status: Leading supplier of solid-state thin film batteries (since 2008).
Strengths: High reliability, established supplier, good technical support.
Weaknesses: Very small capacity (µAh only; 1 mAh max).
Profile: STMicroelectronics (France)
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Technology: Solid-state (LiPON), sputtered on flexible polymer substrate.
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Product line: EnFilm (flexible).
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Capacity: 0.4-1.0 mAh.
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Voltage: 4.1V.
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Features: Flexible (bend radius 15 mm), reflow solderable, low profile (0.15 mm).
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Applications: Wearables, medical patches, IoT sensors, NFC/RFID.
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Status: Major semiconductor company; the EnFilm series is produced in volume.
Strengths: Flexible form factor, high volume manufacturing, trusted brand.
Weaknesses: Small capacity; no mAh-level cell.
Profile: Imprint Energy (US)
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Technology: Printed zinc-polymer (proprietary) – not solid-state.
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Product line: Custom designs (not standard catalog).
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Capacity: 10-100 mAh per cell (custom).
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Voltage: 1.6-1.8V.
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Features: Rechargeable (50-100 cycles), printed on flexible substrate.
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Applications: Disposable IoT, smart packaging, medical patches.
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Status: Early commercial (samples available).
Strengths: Low-cost potential, custom shapes, flexible.
Weaknesses: Low cycle life, low voltage (needs 2 cells in series for 3V), limited production scale.
Profile: Blue Spark Technologies (US)
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Technology: Printed carbon-zinc (primary, non-rechargeable).
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Product line: Standard and custom (0.3-0.5 mm thick).
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Capacity: 10-100 mAh.
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Voltage: 1.5V.
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Features: Low cost, flexible.
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Applications: RFID tags, smart packaging, medical sensors.
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Status: Commercial.
Strengths: Low cost, thin, custom shapes.
Weaknesses: Primary (not rechargeable), low voltage.
Profile: Front Edge Technology (US)
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Technology: Solid-state (LiPON), sputtered on silicon.
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Product line: NanoEnergy (SMD).
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Capacity: 30 µAh to 1 mAh.
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Voltage: 4.1V.
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Applications: Medical, military.
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Status: Low volume.
Profile: Samsung SDI (KR)
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Technology: R&D on solid-state thin film.
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Products: Not yet commercial.
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Focus: Flexible batteries for smartphones, wearables.
Profile: Panasonic (JP)
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Technology: R&D on flexible thin film batteries.
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Products: Not yet commercial.
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Focus: Wearables, IoT.
Profile: LG Chem (KR)
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Technology: R&D on flexible thin film batteries.
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Products: Not yet commercial.
Comparison: Key Thin Film Battery Manufacturers
| Manufacturer | Technology | Capacity (mAh) | Flexible | Rechargeable | Reflow Solderable | Target Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cymbet | Solid-state | 0.005-1 | No | Yes | Yes | RTC, medical, industrial. |
| STMicroelectronics | Solid-state | 0.4-1 | Yes (polymer) | Yes | Yes | Wearables, sensors. |
| Imprint Energy | Printed zinc | 10-100 | Yes | Yes (50-100 cycles) | No (low temp) | Disposable IoT, packaging. |
| Blue Spark | Printed zinc | 10-100 | Yes | No (primary) | No | RFID, smart packaging. |
| Front Edge | Solid-state | 0.03-1 | No | Yes | Likely | Medical, military. |
| Samsung/Panasonic/LG | R&D | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Future products. |
Which Manufacturer Should You Choose?
| Application | Recommended Manufacturer | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| RTC backup (SRAM, clock) | Cymbet or STMicroelectronics | Low capacity (µAh) sufficient; reflow solderable. |
| Medical implant backup | Cymbet or Front Edge | Proven reliability; solid-state safety. |
| Wearable (low power) | STMicroelectronics (EnFilm) | Flexible, thin, moderate capacity (1 mAh). |
| Wearable (higher power) | None (thin film not sufficient) | Use conventional Li-ion. |
| IoT sensor with energy harvesting | Cymbet or STMicroelectronics | Long cycle life, low self-discharge. |
| Disposable medical patch | Imprint Energy or Blue Spark | Low cost, custom shape, single use. |
| Smart packaging / RFID | Blue Spark (primary) or Imprint (rechargeable) | Low cost, thin, flexible. |
| High volume consumer | (None) | Thin film not yet cost-competitive. |
Choosing a Thin Film Battery Manufacturer: Checklist
| Criterion | Questions |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Is the capacity sufficient (mAh needed)? |
| Voltage | Does it match device voltage (1.5V, 3V, 4.2V)? |
| Rechargeable? | Do you need primary or secondary (rechargeable)? |
| Cycle life | How many cycles needed? |
| Self-discharge | For long shelf life, need <1%/year. |
| Form factor | Does the device need flexible or rigid? |
| Manufacturing volume | Can the manufacturer supply the required volume (prototype vs mass production)? |
| Cost | Is the cost per unit acceptable? |
| Availability | Standard catalog or custom? |
| Lead time | How long to get samples and production quantities? |
| Reliability | Do they have field data? |
The Future of Thin Film Battery Manufacturing
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Printing (roll-to-roll) will lower cost for disposable and low-cycle applications.
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Higher capacity (10-100 mAh) via thicker films or 3D structures.
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Integration with chip manufacturing (on-die battery) for ultra-miniaturization.
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Consolidation: larger battery companies may acquire startups.
Conclusion
The thin film battery manufacturer landscape is diverse: from high-reliability solid-state suppliers (Cymbet, STMicroelectronics) to low-cost printed battery companies (Imprint Energy, Blue Spark). For IoT, medical, and industrial applications, solid-state offers long life and safety; printed offers low cost and custom shapes. Thin film battery flexible is available from STMicroelectronics and Imprint Energy. A thin film battery for IoT devices can be supplied by Cymbet (for long life) or Imprint (for low cost). As the Thin Film Battery Market grows to $6.91 billion by 2035, expect more entrants and lower prices. For your application, choose the manufacturer that balances capacity, cost, flexibility, and cycle life.
