Design, fabrication and testing of a silicon-based air-breathing micro direct methanol fuel cell

A silicon-based air-breathing micro direct methanol fuel cell (μDMFC) with an active area of 13 mm × 11 mm has been developed for portable application. The prototype features unique cathode structures fabricated by low-cost MEMS technologies and a reliable assembly method by using PDMS and holders. I – V performance curves with different anode flow rates, methanol concentrations and operating temperatures have been obtained. The results show that this μDMFC has generated a maximum power density of 2.31 mW cm −2 using 1 M methanol solution at room temperature, which is comparable with our previous active μDMFCs. It has also been demonstrated that temperature is a critical experimental determinant of μDMFC performance. So thermal management may play a very important role in future μDMFC performance.