F.L. Chen, director general of the institute's Energy and Resources Laboratories, pointed out fuel cells can be categorized into direct methanol (DM) type and proton exchange membrane (PEM) type. 

Both types, he said, are not stable and tend to run into short circuit considering the reality that fuel fluid can easily penetrate the membrane insulating anode from cathode. Addressing the shortcoming, Chen's lab, is developing the membraneless technology and has put the technology into tests. 

He said the technology uses ion electrolytic fluid to replace membrane as the insulator, allowing it to overcome the short-circuit problem, boost power output by 0.1-0.2 volt en masse and elevate power conversion by 10-20%. 

Chen stressed fuel cell is a green-sensitive product and can replace lots of batteries including lithium-ion battery for notebook computers and electronics devices in cars. 

He estimated even snatching up only 1% of the US$800 billion autoelectronics market, membraneless micro fuel cell represents a US$8 billion business. 

According to market-research organization Allied Business Intelligence, global market of fuel cells for cars, generator and portable power equipment will likely amount to US$18.6 billion in 2013. 

The lab's executives pointed out that heavyweight notebook-computer suppliers including NED, Toshiba and Fujitsu, as well as autoelectronics players such as Toyota, Honda and GM are developing fuel cells. 

They estimated fuel cells for notebooks to become available in three to five years. 

The lab signed a pact recently to license its patented technology for making fuel cell's bipolar plates to Unelectra International Corp. (UIC), a leading Taiwanese supplier of transformers. 

Chen pointed out that the home-developed technology would help local fuel-cell makers to pare down production costs, which have been jacked up by imported plates from a few suppliers. 

Chen noted his lab fabricates the composite bipolar plate with flow channel technology and resin, making it a cost-effective bipolar plate for the cells. 

Chen's lab and UIC began co-developing fuel-cell technology six years ago. UIC executives pointed out the licensed technology would help their company to trim costs by at least 50%.