Micro fuel cells integrated fabrication

Microfabrication processes have been used successfully to form micro-fuel cells on silicon wafers. Aspects of the design, materials, and forming of a micro-fabricated methanol fuel cell have been presented. The processes yielded reproducible, controlled structures that performed well for liquid feed, direct methanol/Oj saturated solution (1.4 mW cm ) and direct methanol/H O systems (8 mA cm" ). In addition to optimizing micro-fuel cell operating performance, there are many system-level issues to be considered when developing a complete micro power system. These issues include electro-deposition procedure, catalyst loading, channel depth, oxidants supply, and system integration. The micro-fabrication processes that have... 

As outlined above, the segmentation of MEA electrodes is a key process to implement the concept of integrated fabrication of micro fuel cells which consists of merely three foils. Figure 7-15 shows the electrical characterisation of the serial interconnected three cell demonstrator. Approximately 40 mA can be drained at 1.5 V. To illustrate the importance of MEA patterning a fuel cell has been assembled with three serial interconnected current collector structures according to Figure 7-9 but with a continuous piece of MEA. 

O Hayre et al. (2002) have reported on their development of a catalyst layer with ultra-low platinum loading. Their paper suggests that they are developing these electrodes for use in micro-fuel cells since it was stated that the sputtering process is compatible with many other integrated circuit fabrication techniques. 

T. Suzuki, Y. Funahashi, T. Yamaguchi, Y. Fujishiro, and M. Awano, Development of fabrication/integration technology for micro tubular SOFCs, in Micro Fuel Cells— Principles and Applications (Ed T.S. Zhao), Elsevier, Oxford, 2009, pp. 141-177. 

Zhu et al. (2008) describe an integrated millimeter-scale micro-power source based on a silicon fuel cell and a MEMS-fabricated hydrogen generator producing hydrogen by hydrolysis of calcium hydride. A prototype of such a power source produced 30 pW for 26 hours with a total energy density of 1(X) Wh/L. 

L6pez-Montesinos, P.O. et aL (2011) Design, fabrication, and characterization of a planar, silicon-based, monolithically integrated micro laminar flow fuel cell with a bridge-shaped microchaimel cross-section. Journal of Power Sources, 196 (10), 4638-4645. 

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