ABSTRACT
The insatiable demand for smaller lightweight portable electronic equipment has dramatically increased the need for research on battery chemistries as well as the semiconductor components required for the optimal management of the batteries. Estimated worldwide sales for rechargeable batteries, also known as secondary batteries, was around U.S. $36 billion in 2008, and this is expected to grow toward U.S. $51 billion by 2013 [1]. As per market reports, U.S. demand for primary and secondary batteries will increase 2.5% annually to 16.8 billion in 2012, while primary batteries will account for 5.8 billion with a growth rate of 3% [2].
