Fabrication and evaluation of a passive alkaline membrane micro direct methanol fuel cell

A passive silicon microfabricated direct methanol fuel cell employing a polymer anion exchange membrane has been identified as a promising integrable power supply for portable devices in the MEMS field. In this work the fabrication steps of the different components: silicon current collectors and me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of hydrogen energy 2014-03, Vol.39 (10), p.5406-5413
Main Authors: VERJULIO, R. W, SANTANDER, J, SABATE, N, ESQUIVEL, J. P, TORRES-HERRERO, N, HABRIOUX, A, ALONSO-VANTE, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative fuels. Production and utilization
Applied sciences
Carbon
Catalysis
Catalysts
Chemical Sciences
Cloth
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cells
Fuels
Hydrogen
Membranes
Methyl alcohol
Silicon
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Summary:A passive silicon microfabricated direct methanol fuel cell employing a polymer anion exchange membrane has been identified as a promising integrable power supply for portable devices in the MEMS field. In this work the fabrication steps of the different components: silicon current collectors and membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), as well as the mounting approach and performance evaluation for the whole passive alkaline micro air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell ( mu ADMFC) are shown. This system, with a small active area of 0.25 cm super(2), was tested near of the real application conditions with totally passive fueling and at room temperature. Different MEA configurations and methanol and KOH concentrations were compared. Best performance was observed for the MEA with a previously sprayed catalytic layer on carbon cloth instead of the MEAs with the catalytic layer deposited directly onto the alkaline membrane. A maximum power density of 2.2 mW cm super(-2) was achieved for 15 mu L of 1 M methanol + 4 M KOH fuel solution.
ISSN:0360-3199
1879-3487
DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.014