Environmentally Benign Ammonia Borane/Hydrogen Peroxide Microfluidic Fuel Cells

Kaur, Parmish and M, Deepa (2018) Environmentally Benign Ammonia Borane/Hydrogen Peroxide Microfluidic Fuel Cells. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad.

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Abstract

An eco-friendly, inexpensive and self-pumping paper-based fuel cell is developed. These cells work at room temperature producing the power density, which is best used in bio-sensing devices like pregnancy kits, glucometers etc. with mW or W power requirement. Their ease of use and disposal makes them of interest for future next-generation power sources. We have developed an Ammonia Borane/Hydrogen Peroxide cell, which produces highest power density of 11.81 mW cm-2 at 0.84 V with optimum concentration using Graphite@Ni foam electrodes. A H+ conducting Poly(acrylamide) gel is used as a medium to transport the ions and complete the circuit. The maximum open circuit voltage produced is 1.81 V with Graphite@Ni foam electrodes. The cell is stable for 30 minutes. Whatman filter papers are used as medium for transporting fluids. The cell with Ni foam as electrodes produces a power density of 8.08 mW cm-2 at 0.77 V. The OCV of the cell with Ni foam electrodes is 1.72 V. Characterisation techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, XRF analysis and CHNS analysis are used to study the cell. In an effort to increase the longevity of cell, microfluidic laminar flow fuel cell device is also fabricated. Channels are designed by using photolithography followed by soft lithography in PDMS. The electrodes Ti/Cu are sputtered on a glass substrate and prepared by etching. Oxygen Plasma bonding bonds the two. The device is ready to perform experimentations.

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