Fuel cells... half the weight of lithium ones...

A technology to produce fuel cells that serve as easily replaced, lightweight power sources for cell phones, laptops, MP3 players and other devices is being developed by a team led by a mechanical engineer at The University of Texas at Austin.
Power sources based on methanol-powered fuel cells could weigh about half as much as their lithium ion counterparts. The methanol-powered fuel cells would also permit consumers and military personnel to carry replacement methanol cartridges and avoid recharging devices using electrical outlets.

“Soldiers wouldn’t have to look for an electrical socket to recharge their batteries,” said Manthiram, “and fuel cells would significantly reduce the weight soldiers have to carry.”

fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly that his laboratory developed to generate electricity from chemical reactions. The membrane that looks like cellophane is sandwiched between two electrodes (one of these gray, square objects is showing). These fuel cell components are being tested as a cheaper power source for consumer and military communication devices...

para las imágenes este es el link... http://www.engr.utexas.edu/news/action_shots/pages/manthiram_fuel%20cells_2007.cfm

para ver la noticia completa ...

http://www.engr.utexas.edu/news/articles/200706271279/index.cfm