Samsung SDI said on Tuesday it launched commercial production of lithium ion rechargeable batteries in a capacity of 2,600mAh, the largest capacity in the industry.

With a size of 18650 (18mm in diameter and 65mm in length), the new cylinder-type large capacity lithium ion battery can be used for notebook PCs and camcorders.

Samsung SDI plans to begin producing 10,000 cells of the new battery a month at its plant in Cheonan and raise the monthly production to 90,000 cells by the end of this year. The company said leading notebook PC manufacturers such as Dell and Samsung Electronics expressed their intension to purchase the new large capacity batteries as they were satisfaction with results of tests.

"We could expedite volume production of the new 2,600mAh lithium ion batteries owing to strenuous efforts of 35 researchers and engineers for the past 11 months. We aim to lead the cylinder-type lithium ion battery market by developing cells with larger capacity," said Lee Jung-hyeon, Vice CEO of Samsung SDI.

Meanwhile, Matsushita of Japan had developed a lithium ion battery with a capacity of 2,750mAh, but it plans to begin its volume production next year.