Technology has found many alternatives to the conventional lithium ion batteries. A new study by the French researcher has raised the chances of micro-sized direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) which have 16 times more energy potential compared to the Li-ion batteries which may be soon replaced by the former. The researcher had increased the efficiency of these silicon-based fuel cells to 75% by injecting a macroporous layer into it.

This new technique enabled the fuel cells which previously operated at 100 degrees Celsius or higher to function at room temperature and deliver a power density of 385 Wh/L (i.e., 9.25 mW/cm2 using 550 nanoliters of fuel per minute) in comparison with Li-ion batteries which give only 270 Wh/L. In spite of this development, Steve Arscott at the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology feels that DMFCs have to face many more challenges before they can be adopted by the consumers.

I believe that the methanol fuel cells would soon fight against all odds and rise to replace the less efficient lithium ion batteries, but till then the researchers will continue to try making them better.

Source: CleanTechnica