According to a number of overseas reports, Samsung engineers have created a new process that will allow ordinary tap water to provide the electrical power for mobile phones.
Click to enlarge |
The process works by using water stored in the phone contacting a metal plate, allowing an oxidation reaction between the plate and water which creates hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is then funnelled into a fuel cell, where it further reacts with oxygen to create electrical power.
Since these type of reactions can generate up to three watts of power, the water-based fuel cells should be powerful enough to be used in devices such as mobile phones or perhaps even iPods.
The reports note that current versions of this new fuel cell can provide electrical power for up to 10 hours, and the metal cartridge needs to be replaced about once every five days.
Samsung says that future generations of this technology will not require the cartridges to be changed and users will be able to fill their own phones with water for recharging power.
