Fuel Cell Works Supplemental News Page

**Mini-batteries for mobile phones**
Publication date: 19-May-2004 Source:CIDETEC
CIDETEC is working on a project the aim of which is to carry out a direct assessment of the technology of fuel cells for “mini” applications which have between 1 and 10 watt power requirements – such as for mobile phone or PDA chargers or for remote signalling, etc. to this end, a series of technologies are being developed in order to obtain a house technology mini fuel cells, including the design and enhancement of EMAs (electrode-membrane assemblies), of structural elements (current collectors, shutting-off devices) and of the electronics for current enhancement (including the use of supercondensers for the supply of current peaks). This work is currently following two lines of investigation, depending on which fuel is used. The first, using hydrogen mini fuel cells (stored in a small metal hydride cartridge), while the current focus is on the use of direct methanol (DMFC). To date it has been possible to assemble and test a 1.5W hydrogen mini fuel cell prototype which, combined with supercondensers, has been able to power a mobile phone enabling calls to be made and received. Apart from the use of methanol as a fuel, other lines of investigation currently under way are the perfecting of a design of a new mini fuel cell the protection of which through taking out a patent is being processed; the use of new thin-layer EMAs which will provide greater yields with a significant reduction in the use of noble metals as electrocatalysts and, thus, reduce the cost of the cell. This project is being directly funded by CEGASA, leader in the manufacture and distribution of alkaline batteries. Contact : Soledad Larrocha Redondo Fundación CIDETEC marketing@cidetec.es (+34) 943309022 Fuel cells make up the electric generation’s future on a medium-long term at varying levels of agreement with the current expectations, particularly in the case of the polymeric membranes (or PEMFC). Fuel cells in general, and in particular the PEMFC type, may be applied in practically the entire power range between 1 W and 250 kW: * Mini fuel cells for the power supply of small portable appliances from mobile telephones (1 W) to TV equipment or laptop computers (20-40 W) * Portable or transportable generators for camping or electrification of systems isolated from the supply network – telecommunications relay systems, weather stations (10-500 W) * Home generation at peak hours, in parallel with the general supply network (1-5 kW) * Electric vehicle: automobiles (70 kW), buses (200 kW) * Distributed generation: high quality electricity supply separate from (or in parallel with) the general supply network in hospitals, housing developments, etc. Despite having demonstrated its validity in many of these applications, there are still many aspects of the PEMFC that require R+D work to be improved, as, for example, the search for materials and components that provide better properties at lower costs so as to be more competitive. Working lines * Polymer Membrane Fuel Cells (PMFC) - Development of hydrogen and direct methanol minifuel cells - Development of new high (>100ºC) and low (<100ºC) temperature electrolytic membranes - Development of new catalysts: modification of platinum catalysts with conductive polymers * Development of fuel cell-based distributed generation systems * Integration of fuel cells and supercapacitors Skills and capacities * Preparation of materials and components: - Preparation of electrodes at laboratory scale - Preparation of MEAs (membrane-electrode assemblies) - Synthesis of platinum catalysts * Basic characterisation of membranes and catalysts (electrical and physicochemical) * Prototypes (minifuel cells) * Characterisation of fuel cells from 1 W to 2.5 kW * Systems engineering Products and methodologies under development The introduction of our own electrode preparation methodology for fuel cells on a laboratory scale The availability of a standardized method of electrode preparation is essential to achieve custom-made electrodes for each particular application, as well as to have the ability to modify its structure in order to optimize its performance. Mini fuel cells for mobile telephones Design, construction and demonstration of a mini fuel cell prototype of between 1 and 2 W of power as a technological demonstrator. This mini cell functions with hydrogen in passive conditions, with electrodes developed at CIDETEC. Development of a 1 kW PEMFC generator for home applications Taking a fuel cell provided by a well-known prestigious supplier as a starting point, the aim of this project is oriented toward the development of a transportable, self-contained generator for small-scale distributed generation applications. ~

CIDETEC is working on a project the aim of which is to carry out a direct assessment of the technology of fuel cells for “mini” applications which have between 1 and 10 watt power requirements – such as for mobile phone or PDA chargers or for remote signalling, etc. to this end, a series of technologies are being developed in order to obtain a house technology mini fuel cells, including the design and enhancement of EMAs (electrode-membrane assemblies), of structural elements (current collectors, shutting-off devices) and of the electronics for current enhancement (including the use of supercondensers for the supply of current peaks).

This work is currently following two lines of investigation, depending on which fuel is used. The first, using hydrogen mini fuel cells (stored in a small metal hydride cartridge), while the current focus is on the use of direct methanol (DMFC). To date it has been possible to assemble and test a 1.5W hydrogen mini fuel cell prototype which, combined with supercondensers, has been able to power a mobile phone enabling calls to be made and received.

Apart from the use of methanol as a fuel, other lines of investigation currently under way are the perfecting of a design of a new mini fuel cell the protection of which through taking out a patent is being processed; the use of new thin-layer EMAs which will provide greater yields with a significant reduction in the use of noble metals as electrocatalysts and, thus, reduce the cost of the cell.

This project is being directly funded by CEGASA, leader in the manufacture and distribution of alkaline batteries.

Contact :
Soledad Larrocha Redondo
Fundación CIDETEC
marketing@cidetec.es
(+34) 943309022

Fuel cells make up the electric generation’s future on a medium-long term at varying levels of agreement with the current expectations, particularly in the case of the polymeric membranes (or PEMFC).

Fuel cells in general, and in particular the PEMFC type, may be applied in practically the entire power range between 1 W and 250 kW:

    * Mini fuel cells for the power supply of small portable appliances from mobile telephones (1 W) to TV equipment or laptop computers (20-40 W)
    * Portable or transportable generators for camping or electrification of systems isolated from the supply network – telecommunications relay systems, weather stations (10-500 W)
    * Home generation at peak hours, in parallel with the general supply network (1-5 kW)
    * Electric vehicle: automobiles (70 kW), buses (200 kW)
    * Distributed generation: high quality electricity supply separate from (or in parallel with) the general supply network in hospitals, housing developments, etc.

Despite having demonstrated its validity in many of these applications, there are still many aspects of the PEMFC that require R+D work to be improved, as, for example, the search for materials and components that provide better properties at lower costs so as to be more competitive.

Working lines

    * Polymer Membrane Fuel Cells (PMFC)
      - Development of hydrogen and direct methanol minifuel cells
      - Development of new high (>100ºC) and low (<100ºC) temperature electrolytic membranes
      - Development of new catalysts: modification of platinum catalysts with conductive polymers
    * Development of fuel cell-based distributed generation systems
    * Integration of fuel cells and supercapacitors

Skills and capacities

    * Preparation of materials and components:
      - Preparation of electrodes at laboratory scale
      - Preparation of MEAs (membrane-electrode assemblies)
      - Synthesis of platinum catalysts
    * Basic characterisation of membranes and catalysts (electrical and physicochemical)
    * Prototypes (minifuel cells)
    * Characterisation of fuel cells from 1 W to 2.5 kW
    * Systems engineering

Products and methodologies under development

The introduction of our own electrode preparation methodology for fuel cells on a laboratory scale
The availability of a standardized method of electrode preparation is essential to achieve custom-made electrodes for each particular application, as well as to have the ability to modify its structure in order to optimize its performance.

Mini fuel cells for mobile telephones
Design, construction and demonstration of a mini fuel cell prototype of between 1 and 2 W of power as a technological demonstrator. This mini cell functions with hydrogen in passive conditions, with electrodes developed at CIDETEC.

Development of a 1 kW PEMFC generator for home applications
Taking a fuel cell provided by a well-known prestigious supplier as a starting point, the aim of this project is oriented toward the development of a transportable, self-contained generator for small-scale distributed generation applications.