MTI Micro Fuel Cells' new Mobion technology solves a key hurdle in the manufacturing of fuel cells for notebook PCs and handheld devices, according to its creators.

"Fuel cells produce power when a mixture of methanol and water enters the cell and reacts with oxygen to produce energy, carbon dioxide, and more water. Much of the early work in fuel-cell technology has used a series of pumps and valves to return the excess water produced in the reaction back to the methanol reservoir, where the two liquids mix and are returned to the fuel cell."

MTI claims the Mobion fuel cells will extend a device's operating life by 2.5 times as many hours as provided by a standard lithium ion battery.

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