World's smallest working fuel cell developed The world’s smallest working fuel cell has been created. It measures a paltry 3mm across. Worlds_smallest_fuel_cell_01 Generates 1mA of current A researcher at the University of Illinois, where the 3 x 3 x 1mm hydrogen-fuelled “micro fuel cell” was developed, said it’s able to generate power without consuming any itself, …
Ohhh i do hope so
This one will get my hopes up big time.
Yes i know it unlikley to work on a industrial scale. but the advances made in micro technology will sooner or later negate the need for industrial scale electrical supply.
Ahh i wish i were born 30 years ago or 300 years in the future
Now sux
No it doesn't!
It sources 1mA of CURRENT if you like, but the power is dependant on the potential difference across which is can push that much current. According to the article they have a 0.7V p.d. so that's 0.7mW of power.
At the suggested 30hours of life, this gives 21mWh of energy. This compares well with an SR63 Silver Oxide watch battery, of 5.8mm dia and 2.1mm thick, also with a capacity of 21mWh
In fairness, the New Scientist article got the units confused too, and El Reg can't be expected to get it right unless one of you proposes an El Reg unit of electrical charge.
(Power would be easy, something like "whale Wales per cubic fag-break", unless I've goofed the dimensions, which is perfectly possible because (shock) I don't do this very often.)
"The first designs generated 0.7 volts and a current of 0.1 milliamps for 30 hours before the fuel ran out, but Moghaddam says the latest designs give currents of around 1 milliamp at a similar voltage," from the linked article. Also "That bulky fuel takes up a lot of room and so the power density falls. But measured as a volume, the power density of the new fuel cell is a relatively high 100 watts per litre, he says."
Cool work. It should be interesting to see how it develops. Of course the other big question is the cost of production, and how much energy is consumed in producing the fuel cell.
"the canisters probably actually contain hydrogen in its liquid form"
Not likely, as I don't see a bunch of insulation surrounding them (liquid hydrogen is one of the coldest cryogens).
It's much more likely that the hydrogen gas is adsorbed under pressure onto the surface of some material within the tank, and is released back by the pressure reduction as some of the gas is drawn from the tank as it's used.
If The Reg can't find a staff member that can tell the difference between current and power then I suggest they stay the fsck away from reporting anything about electiricy etc. The whole article just look like a cut and paste out of a blog.
As for nature cocking up. That's inexcusable.
Reg: stick with shit you understand... like Paris and biorhythms
for el reg
El reg
Three metal hydride canisters each contain 10l of low-pressure hydrogen gas and the design will be available to buy online in April
horizon fuell cell
The H-cell upgrade integration kit comes in an elegant casing and has started first prototype shipments in April 2007.
in my belief it is 2009 and will be available points to the future
so how can something become available in 2007 while we are already in 2009 ?
It would be nice if reporters actually read what is written instead of read what they are thinking.
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