Single-use paper-based hydrogen fuel cells for point-of-care diagnostic applications

Abstract

This work demonstrates a stand-alone power source that integrates a paper-based hydrogen fuel cell with a customized chemical heater that produces hydrogen in-situ upon the addition of a liquid. The presented approach operates by capillary action and takes advantage of the hydrogen released as a by-product of an exothermic reaction used in point-of-care diagnostics. The paperbased fuel cell produces a maximum power of 25.8 mW (103.2 mW cm -2 ), which is suitable for powering a diversity of electrical devices such as commercially available digital pregnancy tests and glucometers. While device shape and dimensions can be customized, here it is shown that the fuel cell can be designed in a compact form factor and footprint comparable to a lateral flow test while providing a remarkable power output. This approach holds great promise for powering portable diagnostics, as the generated electric power could enable device functionalities required for advanced assays, such as device timing, actuation, and signal quantification. Part of the same liquid sample that is to be analyzed (urine, saliva, water, etc) could be used to trigger the hydrogen generation and start the fuel cell operation.

An Organic Redox Flow Cell‐Inspired Paper‐Based Primary Battery

“…A smart way of overcoming this drawback has been assessed for micro‐scale fuel cells with capillary‐based microfluidics, which rely on paper and other porous matrices for fluid transport and thus eliminate the need for external pumps . Paper‐based microfluidic fuel cells have already demonstrated their feasibility with well‐known fuels, such as methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, or formic acid . However, as mentioned above, the need for noble metal catalysts prevents their usability as primary power sources.…”

Flexible hydrogen fuel cell fabricated on paper with embedded aluminium foil

“…Furthermore, even though the fuel cell itself is flexible, a bulky hydrogen storage unit and associated delivery tubing are still requisite, which will impair the flexibility of the whole system. Recently, a novel type of paper-based fuel cell (PBFC) is proposed, which employs the capillary action of cellulose paper to passively transport the aqueous electrolyte [16][17][18][19][20]. In this manner, the PBFC is not only cost-efficient and structurally-simple, but also highly flexible.…”

Improved Electrochemical Oxidation of Polyalcohols in Alkaline Media on Palladium-Nickel Catalysts

“…Fuel cells have application where they would replace batteries in portable electronic devices such as phones, computers, sensors, and medical devices; many of these are liquid fuel cells . There are a variety of liquid fuel cell designs that have been employed: classical fuel cells with polymer membranes such as Nafion, microfluidic fuel cells that require no membrane, and hydrogen fuel cells where the hydrogen is converted from a liquid or solid source (e. g., metal hydride) ,…”