Preparation of multilayered thin film fuel cell using titanium oxide as anodic catalyst via layer-by-layer assembly

The multilayered thin film fuel cells (multilayered-TFFCs) using anatase TiO2 as an anodic catalyst were successfully prepared by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. The electrode-membrane assembly (MEA) of the multilayered-TFFC, which had a total thickness of approximately 720 nm, was constructed on a continuously porous glass substrate. The anode and the cathode were separated by the multilayered polymer electrolyte having a thickness of about 350 nm. The amounts of anodic TiO2 nanoparticles and cathodic Pt nanoparticles were calculated to be 6.2 μg cm− 2 and 18 μg cm− 2, respectively. The open circuit voltage was obtained by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and methanol supply, because electrons were derived from photocurrent and methanol oxidation. The resultant current densities increased with increasing methanol concentration and intensity of UV irradiation. The multilayered-TFFC with 5 mol L− 1 methanol solution showed the maximum power density of 13 μW cm− 2 by UV irradiation of 20 mW cm− 2.