Enhancement of glucose electro-oxidation by an external electromagnetic field in direct-mode fuel cells

In this study a direct-mode fuel cell in which the fuel and electrolyte are mixed with each other is tested. An alkaline electrolyte is used. The direct-mode fuel cell is exposed to an externally generated electromagnetic field between electrodes to cause both the splitting of the fuel molecule into smaller units (i.e. electrochemical reforming) and an increase in the activity of catalyst materials on the fuel before electrochemical oxidation. The target is to create a fuel cell with a capacity range of a few mW cm−2 with glucose as a fuel. In the selected fuel cell type with glucose as the fuel, a maximum current density of 13 mA cm−2 was obtained. On the basis of the tests it seems to be possible to use the glucose-fuelled cell in small-scale applications, e.g. in small electronic devices.