World Advances in Microfuel Cell Technology

SUMMARY

Conventional Batteries' Performance Limitations Drive Microfuel Cell Technologies

Conventional batteries have peaked in terms of performance limits and they are unable to meet the demands of 'power hungry' devices such as digital cameras, cell phones, camera recorders, and military applications. On the other hand, there has been no let-up in customer demand for more features in consumer electronic devices. This situation has opened up a vast market for microfuel cells, which can satisfy this customer demand, in an environment-friendly manner.

This Technical Insights study, World Advances in Microfuel Cell Technologies, examines innovative technologies that are fast making their way toward commercialization. The research service defines key markets and applications and reports on technology drivers as well as obstacles in the way of commercial success.

'Green Power' Fuel Cells to Capture Greater Consumer Interest than Conventional Batteries

There is growing concern regarding the disposal of toxic materials used in conventional rechargeable batteries. Heavy metals such as cadmium found in nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries are environmentally unsafe and there is mounting pressure on manufacturers to sort this issue out. Although lithium ion (Li-Ion) does not contain heavy materials, its high amount of chemical activity can harm the environment if it is activated by water. In fact, when stimulated, lithium can ignite fires within landfills. On the other hand, in fuel cells, the main byproduct is water. This ability to provide green power is expected to win microfuel cells a premium market position.

"Fuel cells, when fed with hydrogen derived from a renewable energy, emit zero or little green-house emissions," says the analyst of this research. "The fuel cell's electricity generating process produces water vapor and trace carbon dioxide as byproducts that are benign to the environment." The urgent requirement for environmentally safe power and sustainable power back-up has encouraged numerous end users to deploy fuel cells to fulfill these needs.

Weight Reduction and Flexible Geometry of Fuel Cells Show Prospects for Commercialization

Technological advances that have helped reduce the overall size of the battery pack notwithstanding, consumers are demanding devices with a truly lightweight power source. "Compromises in battery size often have resulted in a reduction of energy density, causing smaller, more lightweight cellular phones to have an even shorter operating time," notes the analyst. "Fuel cells show a great potential to become more compact in terms of size and weight." Microfuel cells have been taking giant strides in technology development. Newer designs that give them greater power and efficiency have firmly placed them on the path to commercialization.

The flexible geometry of these cells is another factor that aids the drive toward commercialization. "As part of the flexible geometry of fuel cells, microfuel cells are not affected by memory-effect (a temporary or permanent loss of capacity in a battery when it is discharged to an ideal point and then recharged a successive number of times) or self-discharge," observes the analyst. This benefit makes microfuel cells a promising technology for mobile devices.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Executive Summary
  • 1. Scope and Methodology
    • 1. Scope
    • 2. Methodology
  • 2. Key Findings
    • 1. Emerging Technologies and Applications
    • 2. Competing Technologies and Market Factors
• 2. Technology and Applications View Point: Microfuel Cells
  • 1. Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) Technologies
    • 1. Overview of DMFC Technologies
    • 2. An Active Smart Fuel Cell Technology
    • 3. Silicon-Based DMFC Technology
    • 4. High-Concentration Methanol DMFC Technology
    • 5. New Passive-DMFC Technology
    • 6. Nanomaterial-Based DMFC Technology
    • 7. Titanium Separator-Based DMFC Technology
    • 8. High-Density; Nanosize; PEM-Based DMFC Technology
    • 9. Key Component Manufacturers for DMFC and Associated Technologies
  • 2. Formic Acid Fuel Cell Technology
    • 1. Overview of Formic Acid Fuel Cells
    • 2. An Innovative Fuel Cell Technology
  • 3. Reformed Methanol to Hydrogen Fuel Cells (RHFC) Technology
    • 1. Overview of RHFC Technologies
    • 2. Key Technologies in RHFC
  • 4. Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells (DBFC) Technology
    • 1. Overview of DBFC Technology
    • 2. Key Companies in the Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells Sector
  • 5. Biofuel Cell Technology
    • 1. Overview of Biofuel Cell Technologies
    • 2. Description of Microbial Fuel Cell Technologies
    • 3. Description of Enzymatic Fuel Cell Technologies
    • 4. Companies in the Biofuel Cells Sector
  • 6. Technology Impact Analysis of Microfuel Cells
    • 1. Applications for Microfuel Cells
    • 2. Technology Roadmap for Microfuel Cell Technologies
    • 3. Evolution of Microfuel Cell Applications
• 3. Microfuel Cell Technology Adoption and Commercialization
  • 1. Analysis of Technology Challenges
    • 1. General Technology Challenges for Microfuel Cells
    • 2. Specific Technology Challenges for Microfuel Cells
  • 2. Analysis of Technology Drivers for Microfuel Cells
    • 1. General Technology Drivers for Microfuel Cells
    • 2. Specific Technology Drivers for Microfuel Cells
  • 3. Analysis of Competing Technologies
    • 1. Competing Battery Technologies
    • 2. Advantages of Competing Technologies
    • 3. Challenges for Competing Technologies
  • 4. Analysis of Drivers and Restraints for Different Applications
    • 1. Microfuel Cells - Drivers
    • 2. Microfuel Cells - Challenges
  • 5. Factors Influencing the Microfuel Cells Market
    • 1. Funding Scenario
    • 2. Regulatory Standards
• 4. Assessment of Research and Innovation in Microfuel Cells
  • 1. Research Initiatives in Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technologies
    • 1. Platinum Black Catalysts and Membrane Optimization--US
    • 2. Alternatives to Expensive Noble Catalysts--US
    • 3. Bi-Liquid Capillary Siphon Based Fuel Delivery--US
    • 4. Silicon-Based Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell--US
    • 5. Novel Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells--Hong Kong
    • 6. Sulfonated Polyethersulfone Cardo Membranes for DMFCs--China
    • 7. Nanostructured Conducting Polymers for DMFCs--Switzerland
    • 8. Heterogenous Ion Exchange Membranes--Czechoslovakia
  • 2. Research Initiatives in Biofuel Cell Technologies
    • 1. Noncompartmentalized Glucose-Oxygen Biofuel Cell by Bioengineered Electrode Surfaces--Israel
    • 2. Alcohol-Oxygen Biofuel Cells With Modified Nafion Membrane--US
    • 3. Immobilize Dehydrogenase Enzymes in Nafion-Modified Membranes--US
    • 4. An Electroswitchable and Tunable Biofuel Cell--Israel
    • 5. Conducting Polymer Modified Electrode--South Korea
    • 6. Design and Characterization of Redox Enzyme Electrodes--US
    • 7. Glucose-Air Enzymatic Biofuel Cell--US
    • 8. Biofuel Cells Select for Self-mediating Microbial Consortia--Belgium
    • 9. Enzyme Electrodes for Fuel Cells-- UK
    • 10. Nanostructured Biofuel Cell--US
    • 11. A Versatile Material for Biofuel Cell Development
    • 12. Sulfur Cycle in Sensors--US
  • 3. Research Initiatives in DBFCs
    • 1. Alkaline Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells--India
    • 2. Direct Borohydride Liquid Fuel Cells--South Korea
• 5. Patents and Key Contacts
  • 1. Patents on Microfuel Cell Technologies
    • 1. Patents on Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technology
    • 2. Patent Applications on Biofuel Cells
  • 2. Database of Key Industry Participants
    • 1. Corporate Contacts
    • 2. University Contacts
• 6. Frost & Sullivan 2005 Science and Technology Awards
  • 1. Technology Innovation in DMFC Category
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
  • 2. Technology Innovation in Hybrid Microfuel Cell Category
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
  • 3. Technology Leadership
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
• 7. Critical Reference Tables
  • 1. Decision Support Database
    • 1. Portable PC Installed Base
    • 2. Laptop Installed Base
    • 3. Database on Mobile Subscribers
    • 4. Military Expenditure for Equipment
    • 5. Military Expenditure on R&D