Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Alcohol-powered Fuel Cells

Posted by Hemos on from the time-to-booze-up-the-laptop dept.

prostoalex writes "Researchers have developed a fuel cell that can be recharged with few milliliters of alcohol. MIT's Tech Review quotes the researchers claiming that those 'cells could eventually be used as a replacement for any rechargeable power source, including laptop and PDA batteries'. I suppose the scientists still have to explain all those bills from liquour store that say 'research material' on them."

1 of 25 comments (clear)

  1. Specific Energy Comparison by Michael.Forman · · Score: 4, Informative


    The specific energy of a NiMH battery is approximately 70 Wh/kg (250 kJ/kg).

    In comparison a realistic methanol fuel cell has a specific energy of 700 Wh/kg (2.5 MJ/kg).

    A methanol fuel cell has roughly ten times the specific energy. However I've heard that the energy density in (J/L) is only on the order of a factor of two better. Can anyone speak to this?

    Michael.

    Previous Slashdot Science post on Ecologoy and Economy

    --
    Linux : Mac :: VW : Mercedes