Detaljeret beskrivelse

In the MicroPower project the aim is to shrink conventional Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) so they can be used to power ultrasmall portable electronic devices. Our partners are Teknologisk Institut, Århus Universitet and the hearing aid manufacturer Widex, who wants a reusable power plant small enough to fit inside a hearing aid. All parts of the fuel cell - membrane, electrodes, catalysts, packaging and fuel - are being researched to provide a high energy capacity in a very small volume.

In this project you will fabricate fuel cells embedded in a silicon structure. The silicon structure provides a robust framework for the fuel cell membrane, it allows you to control the membrane thickness and area very precisely and it allows you to control the microstructure of the fuel cell electrodes, where the electrochemical processes take place. After adding membranes and electrodes to the silicon framework, you will characterize the cells using current-voltage measurements and impedance spectroscopy. You will determine the fuel cell performance when varying membrane and electrode thickness and shape and when using a number of custom microstructures, that hopefully enhances electrode performance.