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DoCoMo Recharges Phones With Water

Article Comments  36  

Jul 18, 2006, 9:31 AM   by (staff)

NTT DoCoMo and AquaFairy have shown off a prototype charger that uses water as its fuel source. The charger has a catalysts which converts the water to hydrogen that then fuels it. The catalyst is good for several charges. This new water charger is significantly smaller and twice as powerful as methanol based chargers that the company showed off last year. It produces enough power to charge the phone in the same amount of time as an AC socket. Because it only lasts for a few charges, this charger is not meant to replace AC models, but as a supplement for people who use 3G services so much their battery doesn't last a day or for emergency charges. The two companies signed an agreement last week to begin development of a production model charger based on this technology.

Comments

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This forum is closed.

theyellowdart

Jul 19, 2006, 11:28 AM

the real use for this is

traveling when you are away from cars and ac sockets.
it would be pretty awesome for powering gps devices, cameras, phones or whatever on backcountry trips. if you can get 3 full charges quickly on one little device, it frees outdoorsy types to use their devices as much as they want, even on extended trips if they buy a couple of these.
think about it - no matter where people are, they will already either have to have water with them or be near a reliable water source. Depending on the cost/weight/size, I would much rather have this than a bunch of batteries or solar panel - hopefully lighter and more transportable than either, and I am sure more convenient than leaving your device hooked up to a panel in the sun for however many hou...
(continues)
doublebass6
You have to think about what kind of water you can use in this thing. How would it's performance be affected if you used say... tap water vs. bottled water? On that outdoor trip you're planning, would it be able to use straight water from a stream, mo...
(continues)
...
jlp3rd

Jul 29, 2006, 2:55 PM

water charger

Has anyone told them that electricty and water do not mix. diumd asses.
motoBOY

Jul 23, 2006, 1:17 PM

THIS.... IS....

REDICULIOUS!!!!!! What the hell, why cant we just stay with the regular wall ac chargers like we have been? We always have to be wasting more and more water right, right? NO, WRONG!!!
SprintPCSGuy

Jul 19, 2006, 11:21 AM

This is crap... WHO NEEDS WATER...

When you can charge wirelessly!

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98 ... »
amosjones
Thats nice!! Go ahead and charge my phone, the battery is getting low 😁. oh wait your to far away, guess I will have to use the water charger I brought with me
...
Foamy

Jul 18, 2006, 9:39 AM

I can already see where this is going.

"I was using my water charger and accidently spilled the water on my phone."
radioshacker
🤣 How true. How true.
😎
...
muchdrama
Foamy said:
"I was using my water charger and accidently spilled the water on my phone."



I'm thinking the water is sealed within the charger.
...
fresno

Jul 20, 2006, 5:25 AM

Free Energy

G and to think that with all the advances in history we are still using the same combustion engine from the early 1900's
MediaGuru

Jul 18, 2006, 6:39 PM

Something missing

Water's obviously not an energy source. You have to use power to break the water apart into hydrogen, which can then be oxidized back into water. So it's really just a transport mechanism; same goes for hydrogen too. So, this must be a variation on a rechargable battery as far as I can tell. Methanol on the other hand can be found ready made or distilled and then "burnt" in the fuel cell so it's a power source. The article isn't clear on how this alternative fuel cell gets its energy. I think I'm missing something.
newevox360
The day is coming when water will power a lot of stuff such as cars, fireplaces, etc. The fireplaces have been invented already. The technology is there to do it. The process really isnt all that complicated. The only reason why we dont have cars is b...
(continues)
Carlx
The real power source in the charger reaction is whatever chemical is being used up inside the charger after 3 charges.
...
sangyup81

Jul 18, 2006, 10:40 AM

What we really need

Before we go charging phones with water, how about making phones waterproof?
BlueKnightOne
sangyup81 said:
Before we go charging phones with water, how about making phones waterproof?


While I agree with what everyone has said so far, you gotta admit this is a pretty cool idea. If only more people used ele...
(continues)
radioshacker
I agree that someone should start making waterproof phones. I also agree with BlueKnightOne. This is a really cool idea, don't get me wrong. But I can see where it is going to start problems with phones getting wet easily.
😎
muchdrama
sangyup81 said:
Before we go charging phones with water, how about making phones waterproof?



I'm thinking the charger is sealed, genius.
...
motorola1

Jul 18, 2006, 7:40 PM

This is no Catalyst

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalyst »

"a substance that decreases the activation energy of a chemical reaction (see also catalysis) without itself being changed at the end of the chemical reaction."
Carlx
There is at least one catalyst involved in the fuel cell, but that is on the outgoing end. There may be a catalyst involved in the hydrogen separation, but of course as you noted it's not the thing getting used up.

But even if there is a catalyst ...
(continues)
LastNightStand

Jul 18, 2006, 4:38 PM

Another reason for liquid damage.....

I didnt get it wet. Well except when i tried to recharge it.
 
 
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