TDK, a vendor for Apple, recently showcased a major development in solid-state battery technology. The Japanese electronic parts manufacturer shared news on Monday about successfully creating a material for their solid-state batteries, marking a breakthrough that is expected to vastly improve performance for wearable gadgets.

The supplier based in Tokyo revealed that the material used in their compact solid-state batteries boasts an estimated energy density of 1,000 Watt hours per liter (Wh/l). This is around 100 times higher than the energy density of TDK’s traditional, mass-produced solid-state battery.

Energy density is a measure of the amount of energy stored in a given space. Solid-state batteries are considered a potential game-changer due to their ability to store more energy than lithium-ion batteries and charge at a faster rate.

The innovation from TDK is poised for application in a range of devices in direct contact with the human body. This includes wireless earphones, hearing aids, and smartwatches. The batteries are anticipated to be manufactured using an all-ceramic material, oxide-based solid electrolyte, and lithium alloy anodes.

TDK has set a target to utilize this technology to replace current coin cell batteries – small stainless steel discs powering portable devices – in alignment with European Union battery regulations. Key attributes of TDK’s technology include the use of oxide-based solid electrolytes, which the company claims make the batteries “extremely safe.”

The smaller size and enhanced capacitance of these batteries are highlighted by TDK as factors that may lead to smaller devices and potentially longer usage times.

— Good’s Ganesh Rao contributed to this report.