World Advances in Microfuel Cell Technology

Conventional Batteries Performance Limitations Drive Microfuel Cell Technologies

Conventional batteries have peaked in terms of performance limits and they are unable to meet the demands of power hungry devices such as digital cameras, cell phones, camera recorders, and military applications. On the other hand, there has been no let-up in customer demand for more features in consumer electronic devices. This situation has opened up a vast market for microfuel cells, which can satisfy this customer demand, in an environment-friendly manner.

This Technical Insights study, World Advances in Microfuel Cell Technologies, examines innovative technologies that are fast making their way toward commercialization. The research service defines key markets and applications and reports on technology drivers as well as obstacles in the way of commercial success.

Green Power Fuel Cells to Capture Greater Consumer Interest than Conventional Batteries

There is growing concern regarding the disposal of toxic materials used in conventional rechargeable batteries. Heavy metals such as cadmium found in nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries are environmentally unsafe and there is mounting pressure on manufacturers to sort this issue out. Although lithium ion (Li-Ion) does not contain heavy materials, its high amount of chemical activity can harm the environment if it is activated by water. In fact, when stimulated, lithium can ignite fires within landfills. On the other hand, in fuel cells, the main byproduct is water. This ability to provide green power is expected to win microfuel cells a premium market position.

"Fuel cells, when fed with hydrogen derived from a renewable energy, emit zero or little green-house emissions," says the analyst of this research. "The fuel cell s electricity generating process produces water vapor and trace carbon dioxide as byproducts that are benign to the environment." The urgent requirement for environmentally safe power and sustainable power back-up has encouraged numerous end users to deploy fuel cells to fulfill these needs.

Weight Reduction and Flexible Geometry of Fuel Cells Show Prospects for Commercialization

Technological advances that have helped reduce the overall size of the battery pack notwithstanding, consumers are demanding devices with a truly lightweight power source. "Compromises in battery size often have resulted in a reduction of energy density, causing smaller, more lightweight cellular phones to have an even shorter operating time," notes the analyst. "Fuel cells show a great potential to become more compact in terms of size and weight." Microfuel cells have been taking giant strides in technology development. Newer designs that give them greater power and efficiency have firmly placed them on the path to commercialization.

The flexible geometry of these cells is another factor that aids the drive toward commercialization. "As part of the flexible geometry of fuel cells, microfuel cells are not affected by memory-effect (a temporary or permanent loss of capacity in a battery when it is discharged to an ideal point and then recharged a successive number of times) or self-discharge," observes the analyst. This benefit makes microfuel cells a promising technology for mobile devices.