Good morning everyone and welcome to my new article discussing micro fuel technology and its possibilities for our shrinking tech. First of all, we are going to take a look on what micro fuel cells are, how they are produced and finally we are going to see how they are used and speculate its future.
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Micro Fuel Cell
A micro fuel cell is and operating power source that can produce electrical energy by the conversion of chemical energy. They are mostly based in Hydrogen type "batteries" but they can also use methanol which is a form of alcohol and oxygen. Lead-acid automotive battery is the main example of electrochemical tech, others are lithium and sodium ion batteries. All these are counted as micro fuels but that's not the plain were breakthroughs are made.
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The breakthrough and how we can produce Micro fuels
Electronics are shrinking but their energy needs are not. Moreover we have to somehow fit the source in tighter places. Researchers at the University of Missouri did develop a method to transfer an energy source to any shape by the system DLW or direct laser writing. The point was to synthesize and pattern energy sources into complex geometric shapes, by using DLW controlled by computer they were able to produce a surface which conducted energy and had catalytic functionalities. Also, manufacturers are going to be able to produce catalysts that are generating energy in a more environmentally friendly way, making the usage possibilities endless.
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Quote from futurism:
“By honing the process, handheld device and smartphone manufacturers will be able to produce components in whatever shape or size they choose. Also, manufacturers will be able to choose more environmentally friendly catalysts for generating energy such as hydrogen or oxygen. The possibilities will be endless.”
The uses of micro fuels
As you might have guessed micro fuel tech uses are many and varies. Smart-devices, motor vehicles, portable radios, digital cameras, laptops, and even tattoos are using this technology in our current day. The problem as always is cost of production. Thankfully the production capabilities of the DLW might actually lower the cost efficiently in the near future making the tech far more accessible for the industry.
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If it becomes cost effective possible future uses
As every technology that is expensive because it is difficult to make this one too might make it, if it becomes accessible, to the the final frontier space. All these possibilities it can unlock, satellites will be able to have many micro fuel sources,except their main source, that can support the many uses we need it for, if one fails the others can cover it up lowering the life expectancy for a very small amount of time. Moon colonization will become far more affordable since the power sources we will be able to carry with us could be counted to millions and in any shape we need them to be. And finally micro space crafts that can be send to all the corners of our solar system can create a live network or surveillance for asteroids meteorites and strange space phenomenons that we could study in a more efficient way.
Source Links:
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/micro-fuel-cell
https://futurism.com/scientists-able-to-transfer-energy-source-to-virtually-any-shape-using-laser-method/
http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2016/0321-engineers-adapt-laser-method-to-create-micro-energy-units/
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You can find more articles of mine here: @diasdr For all personal thinking content, i am sorry if you find it in any way offensive, i didn't mean to offend anyone just to discuss/express my opinion.