Microfluidic Fuel Cell Chip

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Introduction of Microfluidic Fuel Cell Chip

The widespread of miniature electronics leads to the need for miniature or micro-scale power sources. As the energy-generating source with the steadiest performance, microfluidic fuel cells provide power ranging from 0.03 to 450 mW with output voltage varying from 0.5 to 1 V. And the power is produced from redox reactions between fuels and oxidants at the electrode-electrolyte interfaces. With the increased demands for a portable and green source of energy, the microfluidic fuel cells have been served as power sources for miniature electronics, in vivo sensors, medical implants, and total bioanalysis systems. Compared with conventional fuel cells, the microfluidic-based fuel cells offer unique advantages, including high surface area-to-volume ratio, ease of integration, cost effectiveness and portability. What’s more, the feature of membrane-free configuration ensuring higher performance and improved reaction rates.

Based on the catalysts used in the fuel cell, the microfluidic fuel cells are categorized into three types, which are biofuel cells, photocatalytic fuel cells, and electrochemical fuel cells.

Fig. 1 Microfluidic fuel cell chip.¹

Microfluidic Biofuel Cell

The microfluidic biofuel cells are a combination of microfluidic technology with biocatalysts. The pure or mixed enzymes of electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) are used as catalysts to oxidize fuels. According to incorporating the EAB in vivo onto single or both biocompatible electrodes, the microfluidic biofuel cells can be readily assembled. Compared with traditional microfluidic fuel cells, the biological enzymes are less expensive than Nobel metal catalysts, and enzymes with ultrahigh selectivity at ambient temperatures allow the generation of microwatt to milliwatt power.

Microfluidic Photocatalytic Fuel Cell

The microfluidic photocatalytic fuel cell harnesses light and converts chemical energy to electricity. In general, abundant and cost-effective semiconductor photocatalysts are used to oxidize fuel. Based on the specific advantages of microfluidics and modern optics, including large surface area-to-volume ratio, fine flow control, and uniform light distribution, it has present great potentials to accelerate reaction rates by improving the mass and photon transfer. In addition, optofluidics avoids membrane use so which facilitates the system simplification and integration.

Microfluidic Electrochemical Fuel Cell

The microfluidic electrochemical energy systems precisely manipulate the fluid flow pattern in the microfluidic channel for the generation of electrical energy. Without the use of physical barriers, it representing an emerging membrane-free power generator. As a powerful tool to enhance electrochemical systems, it allows the development of smaller and more powerful microfluidic energy devices.

With years of experience, our scientists have developed various microfluidic chips with the highest quality standards for different purposes. We can also offer one-stop microfluidic solutions to meet the special needs of our clients. If you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate to contact us for more detailed information.

Reference

Jiang, Ali, et al. " Integrated Microfluidic Flow-Through Microbial Fuel Cells." Scientific Reports 7 (2017): 41208.

For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use.