STMicroelectrics hopes to be supplying fuel cell batteries for mobile phones by 2009. They are developing this new technology to power both mobile phones and laptop computers, and are aiming to have production underway by 2009.
We are developing micro fuel cells for mobile phones and then for the laptop market,”
Salvatore Coffa, from the R&D department of the industrial and multi-segment sector at ST told the meeting. “We hope to have this in production by 2009.”
The operation of a fuel cell involves the chemical interaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce water, heat and electrical energy. Typically, a fuel cell consists of a pair of electrodes (the 'anode' and the 'cathode') separated by a membrane that allows protons (hydrogen ions) to pass through the membrane but does not allow an electric current to pass. In addition, catalysts such as platinum are used to increase the rate of the reaction and therefore the amount of electrical energy produced.
The main problem with applying fuel cell concepts to mobile phones is that the power source (battery or fuel cell) must be able to deliver around 300mA of current at 3.6V and it must not occupy a volume of more than around 12 cubic centimeters. However, the output current of a fuel cell is directly related to the common surface area between the electrodes and the membrane and to obtain 300mA of current using conventional fuel cell technologies would require a surface area of around 60 square centimeters, much larger than is available in a mobile phone.
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