Apple developing fuel-cell technology, why?
-Fuel cell, iPhone, the battery-IT news Apple developing fuel-cell technology, why?

United Kingdom, the daily mail reported the news, and how members of the industry claims to have confirmed the partnership between Apple and the Intelligent Energy.

In fact as early as in December 2011, there have been reports that Apple is entering this new battery technology. Apples to the United States Patent and Trademark Office applied for two patents for fuel cells. Apple said in the patent application, will be lighter, smaller, new types of fuel cells used in notebook computers. Apple believes that fuel cells and the accompanying fuel can lead to very high energy density, can be accomplished without adding fuel support for portable electronic devices for several days or even weeks.

So what exactly is fuel cell technology technology, it really as magical as Apple claims?

First, the principle of fuel cells

Fuel cells fuel chemical energy directly into electrical energy generation devices. The principle is an electrochemical device, composed with the same battery. Single cell consists of two electrodes (anode cathode the oxidizer and fuel electrode electrode) and the electrolyte composition. Difference is generally active substances stored in the battery inside the battery, so the limited battery capacity. And the positive and negative electrodes of the fuel cell itself does not contain active substances, only a catalytic converter. Fuel cells are a veritable machines of energy conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. Batteries work, fuel and oxidizer from the external supply response. In principle, as long as reactants enter reaction product continue to exclude, fuel cells can continuously generate electricity.

As early as 1839 fuel cell concept has been proposed, but it was not until in the 1950 of the 20th century to have made substantial progress, 60 of the last century, which successfully applied to the Apollo spacecraft. From the 60 's, oxy-hydrogen fuel cells are widely used in aerospace fields, currently in the automotive sector has been applied, but in the field of consumer electronics, also belongs to a relatively new battery technologies.

Since the popularity of smart phones, battery life becomes a key technology constraints, Japan smartphone users service FixYa on iPhone shortcomings of survey, number one is the short battery life, up to 35%. Cell phone battery cannot change because only by dint of the development of lithium-ion batteries and lithium battery lifting speed is far outstripped demand for batteries in Smartphone growth. As a pioneer of smart phones, Apple needs to use fuel cell technology to solve this problem.

Second, the characteristics of fuel cell

Fuel cells with higher power generation efficiency and less environmental pollution, and so on.

Fuel cell is a fuel and an oxidant chemical reactions convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy, without intermediate conversion of energy links, thus this generation of energy conversion efficiency can be as high as 50%. Its use of fuel, either natural gas, town gas and liquid fuels, methanol, biogas and wood can also be. Depending on the specific situation of areas, choice of fuel for fuel cell power systems. When using natural gas and gas-fired, low emission of pollutants, more friendly to the environment.

This application of technology and consumer electronics major challenge is the portability and cost. According to media reports, Apple applied for a patent through a fuel cell to work with rechargeable batteries, so no need to integrate large and heavy fuel-cell system battery, thereby significantly reducing the size, weight and cost of fuel cell systems.

Third, apply to Apple devices need time

Intelligent Energy fuel cell companies to cooperate with Apple has a consumer business, its website says, battery can be tailor-made according to customer requirements, provide support for a variety of devices including laptops and mobile phones.

Last year, the Intelligent Energy company bought the patents from a battery company, to help it produce mobile fuel cells. These patents were purchased in combination with Apple. Now, the Intelligent Energy companies need to do is to reduce the size of its battery to install smart mobile terminals.

But fuel cells to enter the Apple devices may take several years of time. Other manufacturers are trying to use new technologies such as wireless charging technology, Wi-Fi signal charging technology to solve charging problem, but did not achieve the desired effect.