Thursday, November 8, 2007 - 8:50 AM
539b

Microchannel Gas-Liquid Interface As Hydrogen Fuel Cell And Sensor

Ilwhan Oh, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 294 RAL, MC-712, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, Mark A. Shannon, Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 294 RAL, MC-712, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, and Rich I. Masel, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 294 RAL, MC-712, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.

We investigate a multiphase microreactor in building micro fuel cell and gas sensor. Multiphase microchemical systems contain interfaces and reactions of two or more phases (gas, liquid, or solid). Fabrication of micro-scale liquid-gas interfaces is especially challenging because, unlike the solid-gas or the solid-liquid interfaces, the liquid-gas interface is inherently fluidic and harder to control.

Here we present a novel micro fuel cell which is fabricated with micro gas-liquid interface. The micro gas-liquid interface is composed of microchannels and nanoporous membrane. Two streams of electrolyte function as anode and cathode, respectively. Fuel cell performance depending on electrolyte pH will be discussed. Also, the possibility of using the micro fuel cell as hydrogen sensor will be explored.