Glucose microfluidic fuel cell based on silver bimetallic selective catalysts for on-chip applications

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 216; pp. 297 - 303
• Main Authors: Cuevas-Muñiz, F.M., Guerra-Balcázar, M., Esquivel, J.P., Sabaté, N., Arriaga, L.G., Ledesma-García, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-10-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; AuAg nanoparticles; Bimetals; Crossovers; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Glucose; Microfluidics; Power sources; PtAg nanoparticles; Silver; Simulated body fluid; Tolerances; AuAg nanoparticles; Simulated body fluid; PtAg nanoparticles; Performance evaluation; Power density; Fluid mechanics; Oxygen; Anode; Cathode; Nanoparticle; Cross-over phenomenon; Precision engineering; Power supply; Power electronics; Selectivity; Glucose; Chip; Chemical reduction; Silver; Laminar flow; Catalyst; Microfluidics; Fuel cell
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.05.101

A glucose microfluidic fuel cell with outstanding performance at zero flow condition is presented. Polarization tests showed that bimetallic materials based in silver (AuAg/C as anode, PtAg/C as cathode) exhibit tolerance to byproducts and crossover effect. This allowed achieving one of the highest power densities reported for glucose fuel cells, up to a value of 630 μW cm−2 using two separated laminar flows of reactants. Furthermore, the tolerance to crossover effect caused by the selectivity of PtAg/C to oxygen reduction reaction in presence of glucose permitted using a single flow containing a mixture of glucose/oxygen, yielding a performance as high as 270 μW cm−2. Microfluidic fuel cell was further evaluated with a simulated body fluid solution that contained salts commonly present in the human blood plasma, reaching a power of 240 μW cm−2 at zero flow. These results envisage the incorporation of this fuel cell as a portable power source in Lab-on-a-Chip devices without the need of external pumps.
► Glucose microfuel cell with outstanding performance at zero flow condition is showed. ► Bimetallic materials based on Ag exhibit tolerance to byproducts and crossover effect. ► Microfluidic fuel cell was evaluated with a simulated body fluid solution at zero flow. ► This fuel cell can be used as a portable power source in Lab-on-a-Chip applications.