Fuel Cells Closing In

Fuel cells have long been
promised as one of the most efficient, reliable and compact power sources for small electronics and electric/hybrid vehicles…that is, if they ever came to market. So, we’re hoping a revolutionary (and unbelievably confusing) new methanol filtration system being developed by the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan enables the technological leap in power storage.

The system, which is 10 times more efficient than conventional waste pumps, features a series of 100 50-micron holes that allow waste CO2 to escape out of the cell, while excess water is pulled off by a hydrophobic Teflon ramp (boy do we love those hydrophobic Teflon ramps!) that drives H20 molecules away from the methanol and into a collector. Since this method doesn’t require any power to work, it’s well-suited to cell phones and laptops, as the cells can be made smaller and quieter.

Simply said: less methanol, more power, punchier phones & laptops, longer life.

More at: Engadget