Fuel Cell Phones and Portable Devices

Mobile Electrical Energy Supplies

As electronic devices become more compact with increased facilities and power demands there is greater demand for a high energy battery and faster charging than Li-ion Batteries.

Rather than store electricity by the electron ion-transfer process used in modern rechargeable batteries; the aim is to use a very clean chemical reaction to generate electricity.

Fuel Cell Technology Currently comes in 2 Major Flavours:-

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen burns in air to produce water H20 so is by far the cleanest process. By controlling the process and using the right catalytic matrix it's possible to extract electricity.

Hydrogen Ionises by catalytic reaction and releases electrons (produces electricity):-
Anode Reaction: 2H2 => 4H+ + 4e-

The Hydrogen Ion then reacts with Oxygen in the air to form water:-
Cathode Reaction: O2 + 4H+ + 4e- => 2H2O

Hydrogen is naturally a gas so handling is difficult although it does have a large power density producing only water vapour so giving the potential to create popular very compact fuel cells.

It is even possible to create a self-contained fuel cell that could use solar power to regenerate the fuel cell by splitting the water that's produced back into hydrogen and oxygen for extended fuel cell life.

Methanol Fuel Cells

In contrast, Methanol is the simplest of the alcohol family and burns to produce carbon dioxide and water.

Methanol and Water Produce Hydrogen Ions and Carbon Dioxide while releasing electrons (electricity)

Anode Reaction: 2CH3OH + 2H2O => 2CO2 + 12H+ + 12e-

The hydrogen ion then combines with oxygen to form water

Cathode Reaction: 3O2 + 12 H+ + 12e- => 6 H2O

Methanol is a liquid at room temperature so, in theory, could produce a lot of energy from a small replaceable plug-in vial.

Whichever type of Device gains popularity in the mobile power market; the great advantage of fuel cells is the instant availablity of Energy with no need to wait while batteries recharge.

Future Power Possibilities - Phone Cells and Fun Cell Projects

One area that hasn't been talked about is using a heat-exchange process to produce electricity for portable devices. Differential temperature gradients can be used to create a small electrical current.

Wind-phone how about a tiny windmill-charger or even a solar powered turbine charger using blades painted black on one side and white or reflective on the reverse. Thermal temperature gradients will cause local air pressure differences; the turbine will rotate generating electricity.

Wind Up Phone - Add a hand grip with a small dynamo. Every time it's squeezed it winds a small spring to power the dynamo and keep the handset running.