Onboard battery power can be a headache – or worse. In addition to disposal problems, conventional batteries can leak or even explode. SNAPHAT packages are relatively bulky and a hassle to replace. Super caps lose storage life because of leakage currents.

Cymbet’s EnerChip batteries, however, are made of a thin-film nanotech material, not a chemical paste, so there’s nothing to leak. These batteries come in surface-mount packages, solder to a board just like a regular IC, and can recharge via any number of harvesting techniques. They’re a good match for ultra-low-power MCUs.