May 2004

E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version Samsung’s prototype DMFC system installed on a notebook computer.

SEOUL - The latest entry in the not-yet-ready-for-prime-time portable electronic fuel cell sweepstakes is a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system by Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

The technology, developed by the company’s Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), is claimed to permit 10 hours of run time in a notebook personal computer.

According to SAIT’s release last month, the device generates 100Wh of electricity from a cartridge of 100 cc methanol solution. The degree of dilution was not revealed.

Samsung says it has managed to reduce the amount of catalyst material by 50% via an independently developed “mesoporous carbon material,” described as carbon material with nanometer-scale pores combined with 3-nanometer particle catalysts to activate the electrochemical reaction. Also newly developed by the institute is a nanocomposite membrane that is claimed to reduce methanol crossover by more than 90% and is 30-100 micron in thickness, with a proton conductivity rate of 0.1S/cm, according to the release.

The release says efficiency of the fuel cell was optimized by a “unique” stack design that features parallel fuel supply flow. Judging from the release, commercialization is still some time away. It quotes Dr. Hyuk Chang, the SAIT scientist in charge of fuel cell research, as saying that more research is planned “to meet the criteria for commercialization, including energy density and cost, and we are optimistic about the successful application of DMFC in Samsung Electronics’ note PC Series.” The company also says it expects to adapt the technology to 4G mobile phones.

Dr. Chang will present a paper on the technology at the Small Fuel Cell Conference May 5-7 in Arlington, VA. Contact: Hyunji Lee, Public Relations, SAIT, phone 82/31-2806777; e-mail, hyunjihyunji.lee@samsung.com.