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 (mu DMFC) with an active area of 13 mm x 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 mu DMFC 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 mu DMFCs. It has also been demonstrated that temperature is a critical experimental determinant of mu DMFC performance. So thermal management may play a very important role in future mu DMFC performance.