Nanoirnprinted electrodes for micro-fuel cell applications

作者：Taylor Andre D^*; Lucas Brandon D; Guo L Jay; Thompson Levi T

来源：Journal of Power Sources, 2007, 171(1): 218-223.

DOI：10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.01.026

• nanoimprint lithography
• micro-fuel cell
• electrode
• thin film catalyst
• nafion
• embossing

Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) was used to fabricate electrodes with high specific Pt surface areas for use in micro-fuel cell devices. The Pt catalyst structures were characterized electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry and were found to have electrochemical active surface areas (EAS) ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 m(2) g(-1) Pt. These NIL catalyst structures were tested in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) by directly embossing a Nation 117 membrane. The features of the mold were successfully transferred to the Nation and a 7.5 nm thin film of Pt was deposited at a wide angle to form the anode catalyst layer. The resulting MEA yielded a very high Pt utilization of 15,375 mW mg(-1) Pt compared to conventionally prepared MEAs (820 mW mg(-1) Pt). Embossing pattern transfer was also demonstrated for spin casted Nation films which could be used for new applications.

• 出版日期2007-9-19