XPANCEO and ITEN Unveil First Solid-State Microbattery Proof of Concept for Augmented Reality Smart Contact Lenses

XPANCEO and ITEN successfully integrate an ultra-thin solid-state microbattery into a smart contact lens, solving the power challenge for AR wearables.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 10:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

A Paradigm Shift in Ocular Computing Power Systems

The quest for a seamless augmented reality interface has reached a significant milestone with the development of a viable energy storage solution for smart contact lenses. XPANCEO, a Dubai based deep-tech firm, and ITEN, a French specialist in solid-state energy, have demonstrated a proof of concept that integrates a microbattery into a submillimetre-scale lens. Unlike bulky headsets, contact lenses demand extreme constraints on thickness and heat generation. This partnership marks the first time a high-density power source has been safely adapted for the electromagnetically and mechanically dense environment of the human eye, moving the industry closer to a functional AI-era computing platform.

Navigating the Volatility of Traditional Energy Storage

Powering a device that sits directly on the cornea presents safety challenges that far exceed those of typical consumer electronics or even internal medical implants like pacemakers. Standard lithium-ion batteries are notoriously unsuitable for this application, as they are prone to swelling, leaking, or overheating. Liquid electrolytes carry inherent risks of explosion or hydrogen release, which would be catastrophic in an ocular setting. By contrast, the solid-state ceramic technology developed by ITEN is inherently stable. If a failure occurs, the battery simply ceases to function rather than venting or expanding, ensuring the user's biological safety remains uncompromised.

The Nanomaterial Innovation Behind High Power Density

The technical feasibility of this proof of concept rests on ITEN’s specialized fabrication of fully ceramic electrodes. These components utilize a patented mesoporous structure, which incorporates a network of microscopic pores to vastly increase the surface area of the electrode. This design allows the microbattery to deliver the milliwatt-level bursts of energy required for high-drain tasks, such as wireless data transmission and AR image projection. Since May 2025, ITEN has been mass-producing these ceramic cells, proving that the high power density needed for complex smart lens functions can be manufactured at scale.