Microfabricated paper-based vanadium co-laminar flow fuel cell

Abstract

Paper-based vanadium membraneless co-laminar flow fuel cells with graphene paste electrodes are developed to enhance the power density. The developed fuel cells are precisely microfabricated utilizing photolithography and screen printing methods for flow channel patterning and electrode forming, respectively. The measured fuel cell performances change with varying concentrations of fuel/oxidant (0.5-2.0 M V2+/VO2+) and a support electrolyte (0.5-4.0 M H2SO4). The maximum power density (15.09 +/- 1.05 mW cm(-2)) and maximum current density (30 +/- 0.62 mA cm(-2)) are the highest for concentrations of 2.0 M vanadium redox couple and 2.0 M sulfuric acid. The performance of the proposed fuel cell is also affected by contact with air. Regardless of air contact, the prototype paper-based vanadium fuel cell shows higher performance than those of previously reported paperbased co-laminar flow fuel cells. This novel proof-of-concept fuel cell is important for achieving the required power density for practical use of paper-based microfluidic fuel cells.