Our technology uses Formira™ as a fuel (as opposed to methanol which is used by most other micro fuel cell developers). Formira™ is purified and modified formic acid. Formic acid is abundant in nature and its name was derived from the scientific name for the red ant, Formica Rufa, which produces it in large quantities. The high power capability and simple chemistry of Formira™ fuel cells allow us to build a product that is less complex than methanol systems and actually fits within portable devices.

Tekion has gone through its second generation of “technology demonstrators” and has a brassboard prototype for an OEM application. Figure 2 details the system power and energy characteristics of using Formira™ versus methanol as the fuel.

The power density of a Formira™ fuel cell (FFC) is significantly higher than that of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). In addition, it performs at a lower operating temperature, uses lower cost catalysts, and, due to its chemistry, it requires less balance-of-plant components. These factors allow us to put our fuel cells inside the device where methanol cannot go.

Tekion has an exclusive license for the patent pending Formira™ fuel cell technology from the University of Illinois. The patent covers the entire rights to the use of formic acid in a fuel cell. Subsequently, Tekion has applied for patents for our unique catalyst (which provides the high power density) and for Formira™ which will generate an additional revenue stream. 

In addition to the Formira™ fuel cell technology, Tekion has an advanced materials group with expertise in nanomaterials, lithium-ion batteries and catalysis. This group is working towards further advancements to the Formira™ fuel cell by developing electrocatalysts which will be incorporated into our fuel cell products. They are also working on alternative fuels for fuel cells and batteries which could provide additional product lines for Tekion in the future.


BASF Movie “Formic Acid - A real all-rounder”

Bees, airline passengers, oil rig operators, pigs and fuel cells don’t have much in common but there’s one thing they share: they all benefit from formic acid. BASF is the world’s biggest producer of formic acid, although most of it is actually produced by others – by ants themselves. BASF has produced a short movie on Formic Acid.
 
Click here to be forwarded to the BASF movie.