Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Yankee, post: 702688, member: 18618&quot;]<b>LONDON (Commodity Online): </b>Researchers in Germany have developed a new chip which integrates a fuel cell array that features palladium.</p><p><br /></p><p>Scientists from Freiburg University teamed up with semiconductor vendor Micronas AG to create the device, which contains 42 microscale fuel cells on a CMOS platform.</p><p><br /></p><p>In addition, four extra units were incorporated by the scientists to provide the power for the system and to ensure that the required output of 3.3 volts remained constant.</p><p><br /></p><p>The semiconductor components were built using a CMOS process, with the palladium layer for hydrogen storage, a cathode and a membrane subsequently added for the fuel cell.</p><p><br /></p><p>Karl Hoffmann, who is heading the project for Micronas, explained that the connectivity between the fuel cells is the key to their ability to keep the chip’s output flat.</p><p><br /></p><p>With several elements in parallel and in series, it is much easier to keep voltage and current constant.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hoffman also noted that the chips, which have a one-year lifespan, could eventually provide a viable alternative to traditional power sources in various autonomous systems.</p><p><br /></p><p>A fuel cell could be used as a power buffer for periods when energy harvesting methods don’t generate enough power.</p><p><br /></p><p>The concept of the fuel cell was first uncovered by German scientist Christian Friedrich Schonbein in 1838. <a href="http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Palladium-to-fuel-new-chip-21644-3-1.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Palladium-to-fuel-new-chip-21644-3-1.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Palladium-to-fuel-new-chip-21644-3-1.html</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in