Toshiba has announced that it has created two prototype direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) units for operation with mobile audio players.

The company, which is a world-leader in developing fuel cell technology for handheld electronic devices, has also stated that it has begun testing the units so that they can be launched as part of Toshiba's integration of DMFC into commercial products during 2007.

According to Toshiba, the new fuel cells are capable of an output of 100mW and 300mW, and testing has seen them applied to a flash-memory-based digital audio player and an HDD-based digital audio player.

The move highlights the importance that technology companies are now placing on fuel cells, and there is clearly great potential for all manner of gadgets to be powered by fuel cells in future.

Toshiba's DMFC technology uses a highly concentrated methanol solution, and the firm believes that this approach, rather than the older method of mixing methane with water in a concentration of less than 30 per cent, can accelerate the development of portable fuel cells because of the smaller tank needed to contain the solution.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd