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Microtubular Fuel Cell with Ultrahigh Power Output per Footprint
Author(s) -
Miao Shiding,
He Shulian,
Liang Mengnan,
Lin Gungun,
Cai Bin,
Schmidt Oliver G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201607046
Subject(s) - materials science , anode , cathode , nanotechnology , electrolyte , electrode , power density , optoelectronics , tube (container) , chemical engineering , composite material , power (physics) , electrical engineering , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
A novel realization of microtubular direct methanol fuel cells ( µ DMFC) with ultrahigh power output is reported by using “rolled‐up” nanotechnology. The microtube (Pt‐RuO 2 ‐RUMT) is prepared by rolling up Ru 2 O layers coated with magnetron‐sputtered Pt nanoparticles (cat‐NPs). The µ DMFC is fabricated by embedding the tube in a fluidic cell. The footprint of per tube is as small as 1.5 × 10 −4 cm 2 . A power density of ≈257 mW cm −2 is obtained, which is three orders of magnitude higher than the present microsized DFMCs. Atomic layer deposition technique is applied to alleviate the methanol crossover as well as improve stability of the tube, sustaining electrolyte flow for days. A laminar flow driven mechanism is proposed, and the kinetics of the fuel oxidation depends on a linear‐diffusion‐controlled process. The electrocatalytic performance on anode and cathode is studied by scanning both sides of the tube wall as an ex situ working electrode, respectively. This prototype µ DFMC is extremely interesting for integration with micro‐ and nanoelectronics systems.