Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) say that they are one step closer to developing commercially viable methane fuel cells, which work by converting chemical energy into an electric current. Methane fuel cells could be the Holy Grail for mobile computing; its high energy density and harmless byproduct--water--means that disposable fuel cell packs could theoretically be used to power laptops for long hours.

The challenge so far has to do with bringing its high running temperature down from the "conventional" 800 degrees centigrade to a more tenable 300 to 500 degree range, as well as to increase its reliability. The team says it has developed a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that not only doesn't contain platinum--which can be unreliable as well as expensive--it also uses the more obtainable methane gas. (Hydrogen, which is the traditional fuel source, is more expensive to process into a pure state.)

A micro methane-fueled SOFC was demonstrated operating at less than 500 degrees, a rare feat for this nascent technology. For now, Shriram Ramanathan, the team lead, wants to reduce the operating temperature further to 300 degrees, which will go a long way toward increasing its viability in "transportation vehicles and portable electronics."

For more on this story:
- check out this article at ITProPortal
- check out this article at InformationWeek
- check out this article at Gizmag

Related Articles:
Laptop makers to back standard for a universal power adapter
New Intel processors coming for ultrathin laptops 
Kensington pocket battery for smartphones