A MICRO DIRECT METHA NOL FUEL CELL WITH S ELF -PUMPING OF LIQUID FU EL

This paper introduces a micro direct methanol fuel cell (μDMFC) with an imbedded self -pumping mechanism to deliver liquid fuel. The fuel is propelled without any power consuming component (e.g., a pump), while removing the CO 2 bubbles generated by the fuel -cell electrochemical reaction of the system. Furthermore , the pumping rate is self -regulated by the reaction, i.e., by the load. By eliminating the need for a pump and gas/liquid separator, our design allows much simpler systems, which is especially beneficial for miniaturization. Although we test with μDMFC i n this paper, the mechanism applies to other hydrocarbon liquid fuels as well.