Characteristics of controlled nafion® coating inside nano structured anode for three-phase zone arrangement in micro DMFC

This paper proposes a high surface area of reaction and three-phase zone electrode for micro direct methanol fuel cell (μDMFC) with nano structured carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Nafion^® for the utilization of catalysts. Dense and uniform growth of CNTs on the surface of Si plate can increase the reaction area by 2 orders of magnitude than plain Si plate. Pt nanoparticles deposited on CNTs by chemical reduction method can dramatically increase active sites of methanol electro-oxidation in anodic half-cell system. In addition, liquid Nafion spin-coated into the surface of Pt/CNTs controlled by centrifugal force was carried out to provide proper contact with Pt supported on CNTs. It is expected to improve the three-phase-zone transports and reaction efficiency of the methanol electro-oxidation in the anode when both CNTs growth and Nafion^® coating are combined together.