On the macroscale, fuel cell systems typically require heavy clamping constructions to seal layers. Here we report an alternative manufacturing approach that utilizes patterned polymer layers to yield much thinner, lighter laminar flow-based fuel cells (LFFCs). Most LFFCs reported to date have been proof-of-concept configurations. To meet the power requirements of portable electronic devices, challenges related to the design and manufacturing of scalable LFFC systems still need to be addressed. Here we report electrodes that are encapsulated between polymer layers with metallized polymer layers serving as current collectors. Assembly of a polymer-encapsulated anode and cathode yields a 1-mm thick all-polymer fuel cell, about one order of magnitude thinner than most microfluidic fuel cells. To identify performance changes associated with this alternative approach to electrode and catalyst integration, we first validated performance by analyzing the polymer-encapsulated anodes and cathodes individually, and then the complete cell after bonding the polymer-encapsulated electrodes together. This all-polymer fuel cell achieved a maximum power density of 10 mW cm-2 at room temperature when using 1 M methanol as the fuel. Thin, lightweight fuel cell stacks for future portable power applications could be obtained by scaling and stacking of the all-polymer cell reported here.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Katika kiwango cha macro, mifumo ya seli za mafuta kwa kawaida inahitaji ujenzi mzito wa kufunga ili kufunga tabaka. Katika kesi hii, ni muhimu kuzingatia kwamba nyenzo za polymer zinatumiwa kwa njia ya kuunganisha nyenzo za mafuta za laminar (LFCs). LFFCs wengi taarifa hadi sasa wamekuwa uthibitisho wa dhana ya muundo. Ili kukidhi mahitaji ya nguvu ya vifaa vya elektroniki vya kubebeka, changamoto zinazohusiana na kubuni na utengenezaji wa mifumo ya LFC inayoweza kubadilishwa bado inahitaji kushughulikiwa. Hapa tunaripoti electrodes kwamba ni encapsulated kati ya tabaka polymer na tabaka metallized polymer kutumika kama mkusanyiko sasa. Mkusanyiko wa anode na cathode iliyofunikwa na polima hutoa seli ya mafuta ya polima yenye unene wa 1mm, karibu na utaratibu mmoja wa ukubwa nyembamba kuliko seli nyingi za mafuta za microfluidic. Ili kutambua mabadiliko ya utendaji yanayohusiana na mbinu hii mbadala ya kuunganisha electrode na catalyst, kwanza tulithibitisha utendaji kwa kuchambua anodes na cathodes zilizofungwa kwa polymer moja kwa moja, na kisha seli kamili baada ya kuunganisha electrodes zilizofungwa kwa polymer pamoja. Kwa mfano, kwa mfano, chembe ya mafuta ya polymer ya 10M ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW ya 10MW. Nyembamba, nyepesi mafuta seli stacks kwa ajili ya baadaye portable nguvu maombi inaweza kupatikana kwa scaling na stacking ya wote-polymer seli taarifa hapa. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika orodha ya ""Kifaa cha Sayansi"" (ASJC) - ""Nishati ya upya, Uendelevu na Mazingira"" - ""Uhandisi wa Nishati na Teknolojia ya Nishati"" - ""Kemia ya Fizikia na Nadharia"" - ""Uhandisi wa Umeme na Elektroniki."""