MICROFLUIDIC FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PORTABLE ENERGY APPLICATIONS

摘要

A system and method for generating and separating gaseous fuel components, as well as the partitioning of liquid and gaseous byproducts, in the operation of a portable fuel cell device comprises: a microfluidic containment volume (140, 230); a substrate for supporting a catalytic composition (150, 215, 315) that is suitably adapted to promote hydrolysis of a substantially liquid-borne fuel precursor (330) to generate a gaseous fuel component; a liquid/gas separator (155, 220, 363) for at least partially partitioning a gaseous component from a liquid component; a fuel cell (210, 310) comprising an anode (125) and a cathode (135); and electrical connections coupled thereto to power a load (120). Various features and parameters of the present invention may be suitably adapted to optimize the gas/liquid transport and/or partition functions for any specific fuel cell design. The present invention provides improved control of the rate of delivery/removal of gaseous components to/from a fuel cell fuel solution in addition to improved application of fuel cell technology to power inter alia portable electronic devices.