Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., parent company of Panasonic, and Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. have announced the development of a new Li-ion battery design that promises to boost energy density. As more businesses and consumers move to notebook platforms, the need for higher-performing battery technology is even more essential to the industry.

The prototype battery uses metal alloys for its negative diode instead of graphite carbon which is typically used. Thanks to the alloy material, the maximum capacity for a standard 18650 size battery increases from 2.9 Ah to 3.6 Ah. Energy density/volume is also increased by 40% over Panasonic's current batteries to 740 Wh/L.

In addition to the increased capacity, the batteries will also incorporate a heat resistance layer, or HRL, which prevents batteries from overheating as a result of a short-circuit. 2.9 Ah Matsushita batteries using the new HRL first started shipping in small quantities in April 2006, but are now entering mass production.

Matsushita's new 3.6 Ah battery design with HRL is expected to enter the market within the next couple of years.