BATTERIES The world of battery-free technology

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Batteries were invented to empower portables and reduce the reliance of vehicles on non-renewable fossil fuels. Now batteries need complex tech to operate and occupy a significant device space, which manufacturers aim to reduce. Advocates of battery-free technology consider radio frequency, wireless technology, piezoelectricity, and incident-light-based optics as potential replacements for batteries. This article explores the world of battery-less electronics and the advancement so far.

As technology evolves, the quest to minimize battery usage and explore innovative, sustainable power solutions continues to gain momentum.

How can the world be free of batteries?

A battery stores chemical energy and converts it into electrical energy to power electronic devices. The energy conversion happens through quick and complex electrochemical reactions between the anode and the cathode. On the other hand, battery-free technology aims to eliminate the stage of energy storage. It aims to drive energy from real-time sources and instantly convert it to electrical energy for usage.

Energy harvesting

Battery-less technology is called an “energy harvesting system”. The energy is harvested from sources present “naturally” in the environment, such as light, heat, vibration, and radio waves. This energy is then converted into a DC voltage to charge electronic devices. Energy harvesting systems can use capacitors or memristors to replace batteries. Surprisingly, the technology is commercial for various applications. Some examples are listed below:

RF energy harvesting: Captures free WiFi signals and converts them into DC voltage.
Piezoelectric energy harvesting: Converts mechanical vibration or motion into electricity.
Thermoelectric energy harvesting: Utilize temperature variations or the difference between body heat and air to provide a potential difference.
Solar energy harvesting: Uses solar energy whenever required. Micro panels and MPPT (Maximum Point Power Transfer) are some examples. Not to be confused with solar batteries.

Types of battery-free technology

The section describes how Ambient IoT and RF technologies contribute to the world of battery-less!

Ambient IoT

When energy harvesting technology is applicable in IoT (Internet of Things), it forms an ecosystem known as “Ambient IoT”. In simple words, energy harvesting enables the IoT ecosystem to form a network of ultra-low-power devices. Ambient IoT is a relatively new type of technology. It uses new software and implements new methods of programming and interfacing.

Ambient IoT is the most prominent use case for energy harvesting systems. It is the only way the technology can be commercial. Ambient IoT is an effective integration of electronics x internet that aims to make IoT more sustainable, scalable, and accessible for end-users.

BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE

What are battery energy storage systems?

Ambient IoT is backed by interoperability and standards. Enterprises such as Infineon Technologies, Intel, PepsiCo, and Qualcomm have formed an alliance to accelerate its global adoption. It is growing across several industries such as supply chain, logistics, smart cities, and many more.

RF energy harvesting: Smart sensors

RF “Radio Frequency” is popular for internet access and long-distance radio communication alike. RF signals are broadcast into the environment through routers, devices, broadcasting stations, and many other networking components. WiFi, LTE, or Bluetooth technology relies on these signals to transmit and receive data packets. Ambient signals are weak RF signals that remain in the environment.

Major portions of RF signals split and fade away, going unused. RF energy harvesting involves using these wasted (unused) signals to charge electronic devices. As mentioned above, RF signals are not strong enough. As a result, RF energy harvesting can only charge ultra-low-power devices. RF energy harvesting systems need a rectifier to convert weak RF signals into a DC voltage.

Traditional electronic devices are incapable of integrating with ultra-low-power devices. In 2024, the National University of Singapore developed a nanoscale spin-rectifier (SR), which works below the range of -20 dBm. The spin rectifier is a small magnetic-energy-based device that relies upon the spin of the electrons to generate DC voltage. The compact design is said to offer on-chip integration with high sensitivity and efficiency.

Benefits of battery-free technology

Battery-less technology will contribute to the “Internet of Everything”. There are several benefits of having battery-free technology in your system, whether portable or large industrial equipment.

Miniaturization

While portable batteries are smaller, they still occupy a significant percentage of device space. The absence of batteries will make portables like laptops, smartphones, watches, readers, MP3 players, and many other IoT devices smaller and “pocket-friendly”— actually fitting into your pockets better. From the manufacturing perspective, portables will have design freedom for innovation.

BASIC KNOWLEDGE - LITHIUM-ION BATTERY

Lithium-ion batteries explained

Lesser reliance on lithium

Lithium continues to be the driving force for the battery world. Lithium reserves are limited to certain nations, a major contributor to geopolitics. It may seem that batteries are a renewable technology, but they aren’t.

Lithium exists in finite quantities on Earth. Consumption of lithium is higher than its capabilities to replenish. A battery-less device would reduce lithium mining— reliance on lithium reserves. In addition, lithium mining is a hazardous process.

Sustainability

Electronic components, including batteries, become unusable either after prolonged use or due to defects. Recycling electronic components such as batteries remains a challenge in the industry. A study claims that less than 1 % of lithium-ion batteries are recycled. The case is opposite for the lead-acid battery.

Recycled batteries tend to have reduced efficiency. As a result, most batteries end up as e-waste. International bodies assess that combating e-waste is a worldwide problem. A world hypothetically free of batteries would decrease toxic e-waste volume and solve its management issues.

Cost efficiency

Battery-less technology would eliminate the need to manufacture batteries and chargers. There won’t be a constant need for battery replacement. It will also reduce overall device costs by a certain margin.

Practical limitations of battery-free technology

A world devoid of batteries is hypothetical. Battery-free technologies face several challenges, which are listed below.

DOSSIER ENERGY STORAGE

Stationary energy storage systems

Environment dependence

Energy harvesting technology is too dependent upon external environmental conditions. Any changes to WiFi signals, temperature, pressure, light, or mechanical stresses can cause failure.

Lower reliability

Energy harvesting systems serve ultra-low power devices. At present, the technology won’t be able to charge our phones, laptops, and wearables.

Limited range

Energy harvesting systems have limited signal strength. The inability to serve long-range limits its mobile usage.

Lack of industrial use

High-power batteries, having large surface areas and volumes, are used in power electronics. Limited power-serving capabilities make battery-less technology meaningless in the world of power electronics.

References

• https://techxplore.com/news/2024-07-battery-free-technology-power-electronic.html

• https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/10/iot-breakthrough-lets-battery-free-devices-power-up-from-environment.html

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41745-021-00269-7?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_BOOKS_ECOM_GL_PBOK_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=PID100017430&CJEVENT=74cfbb4e3f6d11f0815b01920a18b8f8

• https://news.nus.edu.sg/nus-researchers-develop-new-battery-free-technology/

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