Fuel cells and their components based on microsystem technology

Abstract

This paper briefly reviews a variety of microdevices for miniaturized fuel‐cell applications. Research and development in this field have been activated since late 1990s, when portable information devices, for example, laptop computers and cellular phones, were getting popular, but battery life was quite limited. To date, different types of micro‐fuel cell, micro‐fuel reformers, fuel handling microfluidic devices, and so on were developed, and some of them were installed and used in prototyped miniaturized fuel‐cell systems. In this paper, selected examples are introduced, and problems/challenges as well as achievements are summarized. This article is categorized under: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen > Science and Materials Fuel Cells and Hydrogen > Systems and Infrastructure

Supporting PtRh alloy nanoparticle catalysts by electrodeposition on carbon paper for the ethanol electrooxidation in acidic medium

“…Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are the most promising ones for small portable applications such as cellular phones, laptop computers, cameras and clinical devices, because of their compact and simple design, easy recharging and storage of the liquid fuel [3,4]. DAFCs are nowadays very interesting for novel microelectronic devices, which require the development and implementation of new compatible power sources able to fulfill their energy requirements [5][6][7][8].…”