A novel combined-mode design for A MEMS-based micro passive direct methanol fuel cell

Authors

  • Umi Azmah Hasran Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Siti Kartom Kamarudin Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Burhanuddin Yeop Majlis Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Gandi Sugandi Research Center for Electronics, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bandung 40135, West Java, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/mjcet.v7i2.1295

Keywords:

Flow field, MEMS, Micromachining, Electrode plate, Modelling, Fuel cell applications

Abstract

A small-scale micro direct methanol fuel cell was developed by utilizing silicon substrate-based electrode plates, where the flow field plate was fabricated with micro-electro-mechanical system technology. Modelling work was carried out to assist in designing the anode and cathode plates to obtain the required configuration and geometric dimensions for the microfabrication process. A novel combined-mode anode plate was developed with an active-mode grid design and a passive-mode porous design for the flow field while the cathode plate was developed with a passive-mode design of square window-shaped through holes in a staggered arrangement. Silicon etching methods were used to form the desired flow field structures on the electrode plates with an active area of 1 cm2. The single cell was assembled by incorporating the electrode plates and membrane electrode assembly. A study on the feasibility and effectiveness of the new micro fuel cell was conducted. The performance test resulted in a maximum power density value of 1.86 mW/cm2 at a voltage of 138.7 mV.

Author Biographies

Umi Azmah Hasran, Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

*Umi Azmah Hasran holds a Ph.D. in Fuel Cell Engineering. She is currently an academic lecturer in the Fuel Cell Insitute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her research interests and publication topics include micro fuel cell, hydrogen energy, and direct methanol fuel cell with a H-index of 14. Her affiliation is the Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. She is the corresponding author and can be reached through her email at umi.h@ukm.edu.my.

Siti Kartom Kamarudin , Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Siti Kartom Kamarudin is a Professor in Chemical Engineering and currently serves as the Director of the Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her research interests and publication topics are in process system engineering, modelling, process optimization, direct methanol fuel cell, and fuel cell technology with a H-index of 56. Her affiliation is the Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia and she can be reached through her email at ctie@ukm.edu.my.

Burhanuddin Yeop Majlis, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Burhanuddin Yeop Majlis is a Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics. His research interests and publication topics are in design and fabrication of MEMS sensor, RFMEMS, BioMEMS and microenergy with a H-index of 32. His affiliation is the Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia and he can be reached through his email at burhan@ukm.edu.my.

Gandi Sugandi, Research Center for Electronics, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bandung 40135, West Java, Indonesia

Gandi Sugandi is a Researcher with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia. His research interests and publication topics are in ultrasonic transducer, energy harvesting based on piezoelectric and electromagnetic method, microelectromechanical system (MEMS) acoustic devices with a H-index of 8. His affiliation is the Research Center for Electronics, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bandung West Java, Indonesia and he can be reached through his email at gandi511@yahoo.com.

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Published

2024-10-31

How to Cite

Hasran, U. A., Kamarudin , S. K. ., Majlis, B. Y. ., & Sugandi, G. . (2024). A novel combined-mode design for A MEMS-based micro passive direct methanol fuel cell. Malaysian Journal of Chemical Engineering &Amp; Technology, 7(2), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.24191/mjcet.v7i2.1295