Signa Chemistry said its mobileH2 technology has created a special fuel for mobile chargers that's made out of sodium and silicon.
When users need a charge for a phone, laptop or satnav, they add water to a replaceable cartridge to start a reaction that produces hydrogen, which is turned into electricity in a power cell.
The company claimed the process is environmentally friendly, uses cheap raw materials, and is packaged into cartridges for use with fuel cells rated from 1W to 3kW.
“We’ve produced alkali metal silicides, which basically are made from sodium and silicon, which, in turn, are produced from salt and sand,” said James Dye, Signa co-founder and distinguished professor of chemistry emeritus at Michigan State University.
“By adding water to sodium silicide, we’re able to produce hydrogen, which creates energy for fuel cells. The by-product, sodium silicate, is also green. It’s the same stuff found in toothpaste.”
The first consumer charger using the technology was shown off at Mobile World Congress and is expected to go on sale in November at approximately £150.
The PowerTrekk charger, which is being produced by Swedish company myFC, is only the tip of the iceberg for the technology, Signa claimed.
“Mobile H2 cartridges can be used to power anything from smartphones, to GPS units, to MP3 players. Also, the mobile cartridges can be used to maintain important sensors and power surveillance and other camera electronics,” said Michael Lefenfeld, CEO of Signa Chemistry.
The company claimed cells using the technology had several advantages over batteries, including a consistent output, with none of the power degradation seen in batteries.
This article originally appeared at pcpro.co.uk
