Nanowire‐Based High‐Performance “Micro Fuel Cells”: One Nanowire, One Fuel Cell

Numerous investigations have resulted in novel nanodevices and applications based on nanomaterials; examples include biosensors, resonators, transistors, in situ real-time biomedical monitoring and detection, and optoelectronics. Unfortunately, such devices currently cannot work without an external power supply. A nanometer-sized power source would overcome this problem; development of such a ‘‘nano’’ power source is therefore urgently needed. Among the increasing number of studies on nanodevices, several research groups have reported research into power sources at the nanoscale. Fuel cells have many advantages over conventional batteries, including more rapid recharging and much higher energy storage density. It is expected that fuel cells of sizes in the nanometer range will be accomplished eventually. In the current study, we present the first micrometer-sized fuel cell using Nafion/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) nanowires (NPNWs) as the electrolyte. A ‘‘micro fuel cell’’ was monolithically integrated on a silicon substrate and consisted of NPNWs, PtRu/C and Pt/C catalysts, two outleading electrodes, methanol as fuel, and air as oxidant (see Fig. 1). The performance of the micro fuel cell was orders of magnitude higher than that of a traditional fuel cell power source. The developed micro fuel cell may be integrated

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