"Watering your mobile" before use could be just the best way of extending battery life.
Water can now be used to extend the battery life of mobile phones, thanks to the latest environmentally friendly technology.
Just add water Image: MyFC |
The world's first water-activated charging device, called the MyFC PowerTrekkMicro, is based on fuel cell technology developed at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
Capable of charging devices of up to three watts, the invention can use fresh water which doesn't even need to be clean.
The compact charger uses a USB connection to the mobile device. Inside the unit is a small disposable metal disc.
Plain water is poured onto it, hydrogen gas is released and combines with oxygen, converting chemical to electrical energy, producing sufficient charge to power an iPhone to between 25 and 100 per cent of its battery capacity.
The charger is both a fuel cell and a portable battery, providing a direct power source as well as an electrical storage buffer.
The handy charger ticks lots of boxes:
- Electricity generation is considered safe and environmentally-friendly
- The only by-product is water vapour
- It is passive with no fans or pumps
- According to the inventors, fuel cell chargers are faster and more reliable than solar chargers.
Fuel cells are already being used in electric vehicles and backup electrical power supply systems for hospitals and co-generation plants. A future application could be powering laptops.
A lack of electricity will no longer be a barrier to mobile phone usage. This could be particularly important for people travelling or living in remote areas of the world, including aid workers, or those in the the energy exploration industry, where constant communication is vital.
The Department of Applied Electrochemistry at KTH is aiming to commercialise fuel cell technology, developing mass production techniques that will help to reduce the currently high price tag.
The water-based charger has alread found markets in China, Japan, the US and much of Europe, with plans to open an online MyFC shop.