Present status and future prospect for national project on lithium batteries

Sales of lithium-ion battery in Japan increased so sharply since the battery was on sale in 1992. ‘Dispersed-type Battery Energy Storage Technologyʹ of New Sunshine (AIST) program have stimulated R&D of lithium batteries in Japan. In this project on lithium batteries, Osaka National Research Institute (ONRI) plays a main role by coordinating the project from a neutral standpoint and supporting it with a basic research for battery material. A research background for electrochemical devices and research activity in the field of lithium battery at ONRI are introduced. Then, future prospect of a role of battery in a society in the next century is described regarding to an ‘environmentʹ and ‘human beingʹ.