IP: NEC Develops Handset Battery From Nanotubes

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@warpspeed.com>
>
>
>NEC Develops Handset Battery From Nanotubes
>
>Electronic News
>Electronics Weekly -- 8/31/01
><http://article.ElectronicNews.com/UM/T.ASP?A5.11.1055.8.1820698782>
>
>Tokyo-based NEC Corp. has developed a fuel cell for mobile terminals using 
>the new carbon technology raw material-carbon nanotubes-as electrodes.
>
>The fuel cell increases energy capacity ten-fold compared with a lithium 
>battery, and if used for personal computers, in the future, a continued 
>usage time of several days can be expected, NEC (nasdaq: NIPNY) said.
>
>The work with the Japan Science and Technology Corp. and the Institute of 
>Research and Innovation in Japan confirmed the performance of the fuel 
>cell, which uses the minute structure of the carbon nanotube.
>
>The fuel cells work by directly converting the chemical reaction energy 
>between hydrogen and oxygen into electric energy. The energy capacity is 
>expected to become at least 10 times that of the present highest density 
>lithium secondary battery, commonly used in mobile phones, according to NEC.
>
>Carbon nanotubes were discovered by an NEC researcher in 1991. They are a 
>raw material for a range of nano-technologies. This latest research 
>examined the possibility of applying it to fuel cell electrodes.
>
>The carbon nanotubes used for the experimental manufacturing are named 
>nanohorns because of their irregular horn-like shape. They have the same 
>carbon atom structure as normal carbon nanotubes. When many of the 
>nanohorns group together an aggregate, a secondary particle of about 100nm 
>is created.
>
>According to NEC, the advantage of this is that when it is used as an 
>electrode for a fuel cell, not only is the surface area extremely large, 
>but also, it is easy for the gas and liquid to permeate to the inside.
>



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