Smallest Working Fuel Cell In The World

The boffins at the University of Illinois have managed to come up with what is known as the smallest working fuel cell in the world, measuring just 9 cubic millimeters. For those who have left their calculators at home, that means 3mm per side, which could possibly result in less batteries where future products are concerned. The diminutive size is achieved by getting rid of the pump, pressure sensor and electronics which are normally found in fuel cells, resulting in a radically new design that has just four component, and they are the water reservoir on top, a metal hydride chamber below, a thin membrane that separates them, and an assembly of electrodes for electricity conduction. This fuel cell is able to generate 0.7 volts and a current of 0.1 milliamps for up to 30 hours before it exhausts its fuel reserve, although engineers claim the latest designs are able to achieve currents of up to 1 milliamp at a similar voltage.