Japanese team makes palm-sized microreactor to power robots, drones

Japanese researchers at the Institute of Science, Tokyo, have developed a palm-sized Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) microreactor designed to power high-demand edge devices such as drones, robotics, and AI hardware. Unlike conventional industrial SOFCs that require about 30 minutes to reach operating temperatures of 600°C, this microreactor heats up within five minutes from a cold start. The key innovation lies in its “scaffolding” design using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), a specialized ceramic formed into a flexible, cantilevered structure that minimizes thermal conduction and stress, preventing cracks that typically plague small-scale SOFCs due to intense heat. The microreactor integrates microchannels for fuel and water flow within a lightweight, multilayered insulation system that traps heat effectively, isolating the high internal temperatures from the external environment. This design not only ensures structural integrity but also enables rapid heating and efficient energy conversion, offering up to four times the energy density of