Coming Soon: Cell Phones Powered by Pure Ethanol

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The compact direct fuel cell, DMFC, is a power generator which uses methanol for fuel and is currently being developed for mobile/ cell phones and mobile/ cell phone chargers. The cartridge contains methanol concentrates of 98-99%.

Once it is put into the device it can generate electricity in a few seconds. The fuel cell can also handle 100% methanol, but this is toxic and hence sales may be difficult. As a result, the company intends to sell the fuel cells with slightly low concentrations of methanol.

The fuel cells are expected on the market at the end of the fiscal year 2008. The fuel cell can be used as a mobile phone battery, but will be initially marketed as a conventional one. Users will use conventional AC power sources in their home or office, and once the power runs out, a fuel cell could be used as a charger.

The capacity of the fuel cells are undisclosed at the moment, but with one charge it should last 2-3 times longer than that of conventional cell phone batteries. Even if the fuel cell battery runs out, users will still be able to talk or email for up to a minute.

Insofar as methanol has high levels of energy, toxicity, and is very volatile- safety is of prime concern. In order to prevent leaks, the cartridge is designed so the lid is difficult to open and won’t break open if dropped. Further development of its uses depends on how small they can make the fuel cell.

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