TEMPE, Ariz.-Scientists working for Motorola Inc. demonstrated a prototype of a ceramic-based microfluidic fuel delivery system for a miniature direct methanol fuel cell that may one day replace the traditional batteries used in portable devices such as cellular phones, laptop computers, portable cameras and electronic games.
The prototype cell uses a reservoir of methanol that, when combined with the oxygen in the air, produces electricity at room temperature. Motorola said its initial strategy is to develop a hybrid energy source, which combines a miniature fuel cell with a rechargeable battery for peak power demands.
While research work is expected to continue for a few more years before being brought to market, Motorola said the ceramic fluid-delivery technology used in the prototype will be used to build an integrated 100mW DMFC system, with the goal of five times the energy density of conventional lithium ion rechargeable batteries.
“Portable electronics are becoming more essential to daily life and increasingly we all went them to have new capabilities,” said Jerry Hallmark, manager of Motorola Labs’ Energy Technology Lab. “But adding features increases the demand on energy sources and systems.
“We need to develop new energy solutions-and fuel cells could be the breakthrough technology,” he said. “Our challenge is to make these systems small, light and easy for consumers to use. Eventually, these fuel cells could enable what people just dream of today-a lightweight energy source that would safely power a cellular phone for a month.”
