Toshiba’s Fuel Cell Is Worlds Smallest

The Guinness World Records has officially certified its Toshiba's compact direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) as the world's smallest DMFC.

The fuel cell will feature in the 2006 edition of Guinness World Records, the perennially popular compendium of record-breaking feats and achievements.

Designed for integration into devices as small as digital music players, Toshiba’s DMFC is as long and wide as a thumb, only 22 x 56 x 4.5mm (maximum of 9.1mm with fuel tank). This size advantage offers greater design freedom to developers of handheld electronic devices, without any compromises in performance. Although small enough for integration into a wireless headset for mobile phones, the prototype is efficient enough to power an MP3 music player for as long as 20 hours on a single 2cc charge of highly concentrated methanol. The DMFC outputs 100 milliwatts of power, and can continue to do so, non-stop, for as long as users top up its integrated fuel tank a process that is as simple as it is safe.

Toshiba plans to introduce commercial samples of the world’s smallest DMFC for small handheld electronic devices in 2005.

Main Specifications

Product: Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Output: 100 milliwatts

Size: W22 x L56 x H4.5mm (thinnest) or H9.1mm (fuel tank)

Total Weight: 8.5 g including 2cc of methanol fuel inside the tank

Fuel Tank Size: 2cc

Fuel: Methanol (99.5 percent concentration)

Continuous Operation: 20 hours with 2cc methanol (full tank)

Features: – Passive fuel supply system

– Simple structure that requires no pump or fan

– Use high concentration of methanol

– Small fuel tank