Power Design Considerations for
Silicon Anode Batteries in Mobile and Wearable Applications

Silicon anode batteries enable mobile and wearable devices to achieve higher capacity and longer operating time without increasing the form factor. However, their lower operating voltage introduces new challenges for system power design. Power management solutions must therefore be optimized to meet the following key requirements.

Low Input Voltage

Compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, which have a minimum operating voltage of around 3V, silicon anode batteries can drop to approximately 2.5V under low battery conditions. Power designs need to support input voltages as low as 2V to ensure stable operation.

Low I/O Voltage

Next-generation processors and peripheral devices increasingly adopt a 1.2V I/O standard. System power solutions must support 1.2V I/O to ensure compatibility and stable operation.

Low Quiescent Current

Mobile and wearable devices spend most of their time in standby or light-load modes. Over time, accumulated quiescent current becomes a key factor affecting battery life. Low quiescent current is essential to minimize standby power consumption.

Flexible Topology

In TWS true wireless earbud applications, a fixed boost topology with a linear charger often results in large voltage drops and thermal loss at low battery voltage. A Buck-Boost topology can reduce charger voltage headroom, lowering power dissipation.

New Buck-Boost Converter Solution

Richtek’s new RT6166 Buck-Boost converter is designed for silicon anode battery applications, supporting input voltages down to 2V and output voltages down to 1.8V, while remaining compatible with 1.2V I/O and I²C control. Compared with similar solutions from other vendors, RT6166 features a low quiescent current of only 4µA and achieves up to 95% efficiency, delivering a stable and highly efficient power solution for premium smartphones and true wireless devices.

We also offer the RT6160 and RT6166 series with multiple output options and I²C slave addresses. Refer to the datasheets for details.