Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells in Mobile Devices?
Posted by Darius Wey in "NEWS" @ 07:00 AM
"High-performance handheld electronic devices such as smart phones, video/music players, multi-functional PDAs and RFID tag readers require longer usage times than power sources currently provide. Traditional battery technologies are not keeping pace with these demands. Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) offer several advantages over lithium-ion batteries. Methanol, otherwise known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a colorless liquid commonly used in antifreeze for windshield washer fluid. It is lighter than water and weighs far less than a lithium-ion, making it a better option for portable electronics. A DMFC provides longer usage between charges, increasing run time between charges by two to 10 times over the status quo of current battery technologies. And when a charge is needed, a DMFC fuel refill can be easily swapped into place without interruption of power. Moreover, methanol is inexpensive and widely available. A gallon of methanol, enough to power a cell phone for about 10 years, costs only US$10. A DMFC converts chemical energy into electricity via oxidation of methanol."
So if the recently-announced nuclear battery or blood battery wasn't your cup of tea, then maybe the new DFMC will tickle your fancy, especially since it's a lot more feasible in this day and age. Having one of these for your Pocket PC would be really neat, and as they say, "with a better power pack and a spare fuel refill or two, there are no more AC cubes to pack and carry, no more international adapters to pack and carry, no more car chargers, no more searching for an electrical outlet and no more waiting for a charge." Really? Sweet! :mrgreen:
So if the recently-announced nuclear battery or blood battery wasn't your cup of tea, then maybe the new DFMC will tickle your fancy, especially since it's a lot more feasible in this day and age. Having one of these for your Pocket PC would be really neat, and as they say, "with a better power pack and a spare fuel refill or two, there are no more AC cubes to pack and carry, no more international adapters to pack and carry, no more car chargers, no more searching for an electrical outlet and no more waiting for a charge." Really? Sweet! :mrgreen:
