Oh, So Sweet, A Sugar Fuel Cell Battery

March 27, 2007 – Vol.12 No.1

OH, SO SWEET, A SUGAR FUEL CELL BATTERY:
A COMMON-GROUND TECHNOLOGY?

With technologies coming from every different direction, it’s not surprising that the world’s automobiles haven’t been replaced by now with something cleaner and more efficient.

Investors don’t know which way to turn. Auto manufacturers are trying all technologies, but would probably rather focus on one.

And help from Washington or the EU? The wind blows in the direction of who is the most convincing at the moment.

Every technology has its supporters and its special interest; some with more money than others to sell their ideas.

The biofuel promoters have the nation’s farmers behind them.

The hydrogen fuel cell folks have already invested billions: They’d like to see them work.

Automakers like hybrids because hybrids don’t need new infrastructure, new fuels. Automakers are also willing to build more flexfuel vehicles because it’s easy to do.

The high tech crowd want pure electric cars but seem willing to accept plug-in hybrids as an option.

And Big Oil? You know, they’re not as addicted to oil as you might think. They just want to sell something at the pump that’s as profitable as gasoline and diesel.

Many different directions, the continued myriad of technologies, may lead to nowhere. One unifying, common ground technology is needed that makes everyone happy and in the end prosperous.

Here’s a possibility that could unite them all: A fuel cell battery that will run on sugary things like flat soft drinks, sweetened drink mixes, tree sap or, for the best performance, table sugar dissolved in water.

Dr. Shelly Minteer, an electrochemist at Saint Louis University in Missouri, presented her team’s sugar battery research at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Her fuel cell battery, that she demonstrated with a postage-stamp-sized model running a calculator, runs on sugar-heavy liquids and has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge (or fueling) than conventional lithium ion battery

Unlike hydrogen, the fuel can be stored at ambient temperature and pressure. Enzymes within the cell convert the sugar water fuel to electricity with water as a byproduct. The fuel cell itself is biodegradable.

She also noted that if the battery continues to show promise with more testing and refinement, it could be ready for commercialization in 3-5 years.

She didn’t, however, mention that her device could be used to power cars and trucks. (Though it seems likely she has thought of this.)

This technology could make everyone happy if powering cars were possible.

Farmers would be able to supply sweets like corn syrup, but ethanol from corn, and its related energy inputs, wouldn’t be necessary. The fuel cell crowd might have to give up on hydrogen but they’d have their refuelable batteries. The drive train of vehicles would be electric so battery-only people would be satisfied. And Big Oil? They could come up with a really sweet blend and sell it at the pump. (Heck, they’re already selling soft drinks in their convenience stores that are more expensive than gasoline. In terms of revenues what’s the difference between sugar water that goes into the into the tank or down the throat?)

Sugar, in the form of glucose, is the energy source for all living things, Minteer says. Why not power everything else from it?

Funding for the sugar fuel cell research came from the US Department of Defense which is seeking new ways to bring energy to the battlefield.