New Rechargeable Battery Powered By Methanol

At the laboratories of Motorola and at Los Alamos National Laboratory research scientists have developed a powerful, miniature fuel cell that may one day replace the traditional batteries in laptop computers, cellular phones and other devices.

They have used liquid methanol to power the cells, which last up to 10 times longer than existing rechargeable batteries. Liquid methanol, a wood alcohol, is also used in windscreen wiper fluid.

The fuel cells, which are still about three to five years away from the store shelves, could power a wireless phone for more than a month and keep a laptop running for 20 hours.

They would use small plastic canisters similar to those used for fountain pen ink. Customers could easily check the methanol level to find out when to replace the fuel cell, which would likely cost as much or less than traditional rechargeables.

These new miniature cells, each measuring about 2.5cm square and around 25mm in thickness, use a reservoir of inexpensive methanol that, when combined with oxygen from the air, produces electricity.