US scientists have developed a new process to boost the power of miniature hydrogen fuel cells by up to 50 per cent.

The mechanical engineers based at Stanford University in California explained that by shrinking the channels that deliver fuel to the cell's core they can markedly boost the cell's efficiency.

According to New Scientist, the development could prove extremely pertinent following the warning from mobile phone manufacturer Nokia last week that battery technology is failing to keep pace with the increasing energy demands of advanced handsets.

However, the new procedure only works for hydrogen fuel cells and not methanol fueled ones, which are currently favoured by consumer electronics firms because they generate more power.

One of the lead researchers, Suk Won Cha, suggested that the new efficiency-boosting method could tip the balance in favour of hydrogen fuel cells, which also do not produce carbon dioxide like methanol cells.  The Stanford group's work centres around proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which feature platinum catalysts.