Ethyl energy batteries

Ethyl energy batteries

A Finnish researcher has developed a fuel cell that runs on alcohol, and is small enough to be used on mobile devices

  Finnish electronic engineer Gianmario Scotti has presented, as a doctoral thesis project, a fuel cell that runs on alcohol, and is small enough to power modern mobile phones. Although it is still only a prototype, the scientist says that this kind of technology could reach the market over the next decade.

This battery feeds alcohol and oxygen from the air, and expels water, carbon dioxide and electricity. Its creator has been able to design a 14mm2 square tablet less than 4 millimeters on a side and one millimeter thick capable of generating half a volt of energy. If several are installed, connected in series, they can operate a smartphone to use without difficulty.

The main advantage of fuel cells compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries is that they can be recharged in a few seconds. It is enough, in this case, to fill it with alcohol. A cheap product, which is already produced in a massive way, and practically innocuous for humans if it is consumed or touched in moderate quantities. A few milliliters are enough to power a smartphone for several hours.

The objective with which Scotti has worked is to reduce the size of conventional fuel cells. For that, he has made a sheet of aluminum engraved by a high frequency laser that allows him to store a considerable amount of energy in a small space.

Recharge by capillarity

Apart from solutions, Scotti has also raised some of the challenges that fuel cells face for adoption. Among others, the need to keep it clean for proper operation. This prevents, de facto, that it can be recharged directly from an alcohol can. Any impurity could affect the battery, shorten its life or ruin it. To solve it, it proposes a recharge system by capillarity, a porous material is soaked and it takes the alcohol to where it should go while filtering it from other substances.

Also, Scotti recognizes, his system is very sensitive to air quality. While its battery can work without problems in clear areas, its performance can suffer in places with high air pollution.