EnerCera: Ultra-Thin, Bendable, and Safe Lithium-Ion Battery

This isn’t your typical lithium cell. NGK’s EnerCera batteries are flat, bendable, and exceptionally safe. Designed for next-generation electronics, this ultra-thin battery platform leverages ceramic materials and semi-solid-state chemistry to deliver an energy storage solution that’s safer, more compact, and more reliable than traditional lithium-ion designs.

At Sensors Converge 2025 in Silicon Valley, we spoke with NGK’s Steve Grzechowiak for a deep dive into the EnerCera technology. It’s clear these batteries are purpose-built for today’s miniaturised devices—especially where size, safety, and charging flexibility matter. If you’re looking for an ultra-thin li-ion battery that doesn’t compromise on performance or safety, EnerCera might be exactly what your design needs.

Where does the name come from for this Ultra-thin li-ion battery?

Simple: “Ener” from energy, and “Cera” from ceramic. NGK is a global leader in advanced ceramics, and that expertise is baked into the design of every EnerCera cell.

The result is an ultra-thin li-ion battery built with a semi-solid-state architecture and a ceramic-based electrode. This unique structure removes organic binders, slashes the risk of flammability, and eliminates swelling or gas build-up. NGK has even demonstrated puncture tests where the battery remains stable—no thermal runaway, no explosions. It’s a safe, reliable option for wearables, medical devices, and other compact electronics where traditional lithium cells can’t compete.

Super thin, and genuinely bendable

Most batteries aren’t happy being flexed. But EnerCera flat cells are rated for repeated bending over a 40 mm radius (the same spec used for smart cards). That gives designers more freedom to wrap around corners, conform to surfaces, or embed power in flexible enclosures.

And it’s not just the flat types—NGK also offers coin cell-style EnerCera variants with similar benefits.

Safer than lithium-ion: Ultra-thin li-ion battery

EnerCera’s safety credentials go beyond just ceramic chemistry. Because the cells have no organic binder and use less liquid electrolyte, this ultra-thin li-ion battery avoids the gas generation and swelling issues common in pouch cells. It can also be safely stored at zero state-of-charge and resists float degradation—two big wins for long shelf-life or backup power use cases.

Versatile power and charging options

With voltages of 2.3 V or 3.8 V and energy capacities up to 27 mAh, this ultra-thin li-ion battery covers a wide range of use cases. Some versions support quick charging (up to 80% in 14 minutes), while others deliver over 500 mA peak discharge current—plenty to support wireless comms bursts in IoT applications.

Even better: some models can be charged with constant voltage and don’t require a charge IC, reducing BOM cost and complexity.

Designed for surface-mount production

EnerCera batteries can be manually soldered or clamped, and certain models are compatible with standard reflow soldering processes, making them easy to integrate into high-volume PCB assembly lines.

Ideal for:

• Smart cards
• Wearable devices
• Medical patches
• Thin GPS trackers
• Energy harvesting nodes
• Smart sensors and compact IoT devices

EnerCera gives engineers a unique combination of size, safety, flexibility, and performance. If you’re building the next wave of tiny, powerful electronics, this is a battery worth evaluating.