Assembly and performance testing of a MEMS-based μPEMFC with the help of a spiral micrometer

In this work, a feasible and simple method of assembling a micro MEMS-based μPEMFC (about 0.35 ml in volume and 0.65 g in weight) with the help of a spiral micrometer was proposed. The micrometer provided a constant pressure between the two flow field plates and MEA in assembling for a short term while a special epoxy resin was applied to seal the cell and provide long term pressure between the above components after removing the micrometer. Tests showed that the as-assembled cell had a reasonable performance, which was proved by the linear polarization and EIS experiments. The long term behavior of the μPEMFC was stable in general except for some fluctuation along time. We concluded that this fluctuation was due to a combined effect of heat produced and water management, which the as-assembled μPEMFC has its own ability to adjust. More importantly, this experiment demonstrated the full feasibility and great promise of assembling μFCs with the help of a spiral micrometer.