NEC Develops High-Power Organic Radical Battery

NEC Corp. of Tokyo, Japan, is developing a high-power organic radical battery (ORB, pictured on page 1) used to protect information technology (IT) equipment from losing data during power supply interruptions. The film-packed ORB (55×43mm x 4mm thick) demonstrates a maximum power of 35 watts, and its four series-connected cells are capable of driving a 140 watt class desktop PC in the event of power supply interruption. This technology is extremely beneficial as an emergency power source for commercial computers and IT equipment as well as electrical household appliances.

ORB is a new class of rechargeable battery being developed by NEC, which uses the electrochemical reaction of organic radical compounds. This technology was initially proposed by NEC in 2001. To date, the company has succeeded in synthesizing a polyradical of the modified PTMA, or “2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxy-4-yl meth acrylate,” with excellent durability. Due to the high reactivity and reversibility of the radical reaction, the organic radical battery demonstrates extremely high power density and good cycleability, making it suitable for a range of next generation applications.

As a built-in, ORB makes obsolete the need for energy conversions from AC to DC, or DC to AC, and it realizes protection of equipment from power failure with no loss of energy. Environmentally friendly, the ORB consists of organic polymer which contains no harmful heavy metals, Hg, Pb, or Cd etc. ORB has been confirmed to be inflammable and non-explosive, making it extremely safe.

This research was carried out as part of a project to develop a high-power density organic radical battery for data-backup supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.

NEC Corp. is one of the world’s leading providers of Internet, broadband network, and enterprise business solutions, and is ranked as one of the world’s top patent-producing companies. It employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of ¥4,855 billion (US$45.4 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005.