Micro PEM fuel cell system with NaBH4 hydrogen generator

A micro PEM fuel cell system with a NaBH4 hydrogen generator is presented. The micro PEM fuel cell contained glass bipolar plates and a microreactor that initiated a catalytic hydrolysis reaction in the NaBH4 solution. The entire system was developed using MEMS technology. The total system comprised the micro PEM fuel cell, a catalytic microreactor, hydrogen separator, micropump, and a NaBH4 solution cartridge. The microreactor generated a hydrogen flow rate of 16.1 ml/min from a NaBH4 feeding rate of 60 μl/min. The conversion efficiency was 98.8% and the reactor temperature was 41 °C during the operation. The maximum power output of micro fuel cell was 174.6 mW for a current of 0.45 A. Cyclic performance tests were conducted in order to assess the practical operation of the micro fuel cell system.