Mobiles prepare for a power boost

Fuel cells have long been touted as a long-lasting power supply for mobile devices, but have proved to be a promise unfulfilled. However, according to a new report from market researchers NanoMarkets, developments in the marketplace will make 2006 the take-off year for mobile fuel cells.

The report identifies a number of significant developments that should prompt the mobile industry to take the mobile fuel cells market seriously. The first concerns burgeoning power requirements and the absence of a power source that can supply power for many hours between charges. Nokia has actually cancelled a smart-phone product because its numerous features drained the battery too fast, says NanoMarkets. Also, power-hungry digital broadcast tuners are on their way, which will add to the power demands of mobile handsets. Fuel cells could well provide the answer.

Fuel cells are likely to be introduced initially as portable rechargers for batteries or in hybrid fuel cell/battery combos in which fuel cells provide long-lasting power and batteries deal with power spikes. Even in 2010, NanoMarkets claims that more than 80 per cent of fuel cells will be used in conjunction with batteries.

IBM and Sanyo have announced plans to produce a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for the IBM ThinkPad laptop. Other big names that see opportunities in the budding mobile fuel cell market include Hitachi, Motorola, NEC, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. The emergence of more efficient DMFC fuel cells that operate at lower temperatures has made fuel cell technology much more viable for mobile applications, says the report. In the future nano-catalysts and new polymers and nanomaterials for membranes are likely to make for even better energy density in mobile fuel cells.

NanoMarkets' report provides detailed analysis and forecasts of both fuel cells and batteries for mobile power applications broken out by technology, functionality and device type. DMFC, PEFC, SOFC and DNMFC fuel cells are covered for application in laptops, mobile phones, PDAs and portable consumer electronics devices..

22.09.05
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Mobiles nuclear option

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