Ilika plc (LON: IKA), the advanced solid-state battery technology company, CEO Graeme Purdy joins Directorstalk to discuss the successfully wafer-thinning process with mm-scale batteries. Graeme explains what wafer thinning is, if its propriety to Ilika, the effect on the cells, why it’s important to have a thin profile and the launch of the product.
Ilika’s mm-scale battery, code-named Golden Hind, is designed for miniature medical implants, which account for about 50% of the current commercial opportunities in Ilika’s licensing pipeline. The cells are fabricated on standard semiconductor industry wafers using Ilika’s proprietary vacuum deposition technique. The cells are etched from the materials deposited on the wafer and singulated using standard industry back-end processing techniques. lIika plc has developed the materials and process technologies to make these cells on its pilot line in Southampton, UK and to align with customer demands.
The latest batteries were thinned using back-end processes common to the semi-conductor industry. This crucial manufacturing step will produce ultra-thin solid-state batteries about 250 um in thickness, which is not much thicker than a postage stamp.