A PDMS micro proton exchange membrane fuel cell by conventional and non-conventional microfabrication techniques

We have successfully fabricated hydrogen–air micro proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) on silicon and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) base substrates. A complete fuel cell system was fabricated consisting of a PDMS substrate with micro flow channels upon which the membrane electrode assembly was vertically stacked. The PDMS microreactor was fabricated by soft lithography techniques. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) consisted of electrodes and catalyst deposited on both sides of the Nafion membrane using conventional microfabrication approaches. We have been able to register open circuit voltage in excess of 0.790 V while the peak power of 0.282 mW at 0.375 V was obtained from this fuel cell. The current–voltage (V–I) characteristics for the fuel cell were measured at different temperatures ranging from room temperature to 80 ◦C. The oxidation of hydrogen was characterized for conversion on different catalyst materials by measuring the composition of product gases. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.