Nanoimprint of polymer electrolyte membrane for micro direct methanol fuel cell application

  • Y. Zhang
  • , J. Lu
  • , Q. Wang
  • , M. Takahashi
  • , T. Itoh
  • , R. Maeda

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper reviews current progress on the miniaturization of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) by micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. MEMS-based micro DMFC has low performance because of low catalyst efficiency. Thermal nanoimprint technology is presented as an attractive method for achieving high catalyst efficiency. Fine patterns were directly formed on Nafion 117 membrane by using thermal nanoimprint method. With passive feeding of 1 M methanol solution and air, the nanoimprintcd micro DMFC prototype had a open circuit voltage (OCV) of about 0.74 V and a maximum power density (MPD) of 0.2 mW/cm2, which were much higher than those of the state-of-the-art MEMS-based micro DMFC with similar catalyst loading, suggesting that much higher catalyst efficiency had been realized. This conclusion was also supported by the fuel cell experiments on the nanoimprintcd membrane using humidified hydrogen and oxygen at 60°C.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationECS Transactions - Micro Power Sources - 214th ECS Meeting
Pages11-17
Number of pages7
Edition26
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
EventMicro Power Sources - 214th ECS Meeting - Honolulu, HI, United States
Duration: 12 Oct 200817 Dec 2008

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Number26
Volume16
ISSN (Print)1938-5862
ISSN (Electronic)1938-6737

Conference

ConferenceMicro Power Sources - 214th ECS Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu, HI
Period12/10/0817/12/08

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