Wave Issue 2004 1/25/00 Article 3-01

***Researchers Report Progress in Developing Miniature Power
Source for Consumer Electronic Devices
(January 20)

Scientists at Motorola Labs and Los Alamos National Laboratory
have developed a miniature fuel cell that may one day replace the
traditional batteries that power everything from cellular phones
and laptop computers to portable cameras and electronic games.
The energy density of these fuel cells is 10 times that of
conventional rechargeable batteries. At the same time, they will
be lighter in weight and less expensive to purchase.

The fuel cells, each measuring about one inch square and less
than one-tenth of an inch in thickness, are powered by liquid
methanol (wood alcohol) and can be installed into numerous
existing and future electronic devices. Use of the fuel cells,
for example, could safely power a cellular phone for more than a
month and eliminate the need for battery chargers and a/c
adapters.

The fuel cell uses a reservoir of methanol that, when combined
with the oxygen in the air, produces electricity. Since fuel
cells have low voltage outputs, typical designs would require
stacking several cells together to increase voltage. However,
Motorola Labs has designed circuitry that converts the low
voltage of a fuel cell to the higher voltage required to replace
conventional batteries and directly drive portable electronics.

This "air breathing" fuel cell was developed at Los Alamos
National Laboratory. The simplified and miniaturized design
eliminates the need for air pumps, heat exchangers and other
devices that previous fuel cells required and therefore
disqualified them from successful use in small portable
electronic products. It's envisioned that the methanol required
to run electronic devices could be packaged in small, inexpensive
cartridges and purchased at the same locations consumers now
purchase traditional batteries.

The advanced direct methanol fuel cell technology base at Los
Alamos National Laboratory was created with support from the U.S.
Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, and the Defense Science Office of the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The University of California
operates Los Alamos National Laboratory for the U.S. Department
of Energy.

www.education.lanl.gov/resources/fuelcells/