Fuel cells in laptops edge closer (BBC)

By Paul Kallender
Toyko

Electronics companies are promoting fuel cells as an environmentally-friendly and convenient alternative to traditional lithium ion batteries.

The technology promises to supplement or replace today's batteries in laptops. Instead of storing power, fuel cells generate electricity by breaking down methanol via an electrochemical process.

The cells can be recharged by topping them up with methanol from a cartridge.

Recently, Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Samsung and Sanyo, among others, have shown prototypes that suggest that the technology is just around the corner.
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Toshiba has been working on three key areas before commercialisation; size, noise and weight. Mr Arimura said the company was aiming to have a commercial version out in 2007.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5016984.stm

Interesting technology. Just don't take it on the plane, thanks.

*da-dun* TSSS!

Thank you folks, I'll be here all evening. Try the fresh scampi.

http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/8/2/6

Researchers in the US and Greece have invented a reactor that can produce hydrogen from ethanol. Lanny Schmidt of the University of Minnesota, Xenephon Verykios of the University of Patras and co-workers say their reactor is both efficient and cost-effective, and that it represents a major step towards a realistic “hydrogen economy”. It could be employed in small fuel cells capable of generating enough hydrogen for 350 Watt-hours of electricity (G Deluga et al. 2004 Science 303 993).


http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage4346.html


http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellToday/IndustryInformation/IndustryInformationExternal/NewsDisplayArticle/0,1602,7714,00.html

...call me Mr. Snarky...