Japanese Company Kurita Water Successfully Develops New Method to Convert Methanol into Safe Energy Source for Mobile Devices
Fuel cells powered by methanol enable laptops and mobile phones to operate for several days, or even weeks. Companies like Toshiba, IBM, and Sanyo have also tested this technology for laptops and various other products; however, methanol has a high toxicity rate, is highly flammable, and can pose explosion risks in certain situations. Yet, by combining methanol with a substance that Kurita has not disclosed, the company has created a stable “solid-state methanol” fuel cell that poses no harm to users.
The “mysterious” compound is stored in powder form or various other shapes as desired. It holds methanol within a molecular network and releases it when combined with water. The fuel cell can also be recharged and reused.
Kurita plans to widely release the product in 2007.
T.N. (according to VNUNet)
