Passive direct methanol fuel cells as a sustainable alternative to batteries in hearing aid devices- An overview

Hearing aids are medical devices used to overcome the deficits associated with hearing loss, the commonest sensory disability, which is neither curable nor reversible. The World Health Organization estimates that over 6% of the world's population have disabling hearing loss. Therefore, more and more hard of hearing people benefit from hearing aids and thus, the hearing aids manufactures rely on the most recent advances in technology to provide devices with advanced features, allowing better communication and overall better lifestyle of hearing aid users and society as a whole.These efforts are accompanied by both power and size considerations, and nowadays the most common options rely on Zn-air battery and rechargeable Li-ion and Ag-Zn batteries. However, the passive direct methanol fuel cell is an emergent alternative technology, as sustainable power source for compact portable electronic applications. This is particularly useful in developing countries and isolated areas where the grid to recharge the batteries is unreliable or unavailable, physically or economically. This paper intends to give an overview on the technological issues associated with modern hearing aids power up options, their societal impact and the R&D challenges direct methanol fuel cell need to overcome in the pursuit of more sustainable and efficient devices. As it is discussed, these can provide a market niche for innovative passive direct methanol fuel cell deployment and commercialization, in order to respond to societal and medical industry requirements.(c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.