ABSTRACT
Considering today's growing demand for and operational needs of portable microelectronics is crucial in drafting a strategy for supplying a derivative application space that is barely emerging, such as wireless microsensors. Modern microelectronic systems necessarily embed both analog and digital functions. While energy and power unavoidably relate, meeting the energy requirements of a microsystem does not necessarily imply that the source can also supply the power needed. As a result, reducing losses to save energy is as important as duty-cycling tasks over time to decrease power. Trends in technology dictate how and to what extent emerging applications succeed. The appeal of Li ion technologies in microscale applications is integration. Outside of integration, Li ions also tend to outperform their rechargeable lead–acid, alkaline, nickel–metal–hydride, and nickel–cadmium counterparts in capacity, cycle life, internal resistance, and self-discharge. Thermal and magnetic energy are less appealing under microscale integration because their power and voltage levels are low.
