Fabrication and characterization of a passive silicon-based direct methanol fuel cell
Abstract
Fabrication and characterization of a passive silicon microfabricated direct methanol fuel cell (μDMFC) are reported. The main characteristics of the device are its capability to work without complex pumping systems, only by capillary pressure, and the fact that its performance is not affected by the device orientation. A simple fabrication process, based in DRIE (Deep Reactive Ion Etching), allows obtaining a reliable and low-cost final device. The device consists of two silicon microfabricated plates mounted together with a commercial membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Current-voltage (I-V) and current-power (I-P) curves of the device at different methanol concentration, orientation and geometric variation of silicon plates are presented. Optimal performance was obtained with a methanol concentration of 3M, that yielded a maximum power density of 10.5 mW/cm2. The results obtained in this work demonstrate the feasibility of the device and give a guideline for design and conditions optimization.
- Publication:
-
Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS III
- Pub Date:
- May 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.721907
- Bibcode:
- 2007SPIE.6589E..03E