Fuel cells for portable applications

✍ Scribed by Christopher K. Dyer

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 314 KB
• Volume: 2002
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1464-2859
• DOI: 10.1016/s1464-2859(02)80334-0

✦ Synopsis

There is growing interest in the replacement of batteries by fuel cells for portable consumer electronics such as cellular phones, laptop computers, digital cameras etc. At first sight, comparisons with batteries based on performance and convenience are encouraging. However, the cost and safety aspects of small fuel cells based on conventional electrochemistry will need to be addressed before there is widespread commercialization. Interest in using fuel cells to power portable equipment for commercial applications is relatively recent. This is perhaps partly due to the success of lithium-based batteries in powering laptop computers, cellular phones and the like. The requirement for higher energy density or longer operational time between recharges was generally well served by the Li-ion battery and high-energydensity nickel-based batteries, especially those based on metal hydrides. Safety and environmental factors were key considerations in addition to the high energy density of these batteries.