Multi-dimensional performance analysis and efficiency evaluation of paper-based microfluidic fuel cell

As a mainstream power storage and supply device, batteries are continuously upgraded. The microfluidic fuel cell has great development potential, and the paper-based microfluidic fuel cell is the latest achievement of its lightweight, which can be applied in the field of medical and biological detection. In this work, the cell models with various folding forms and unconventional absorption pads are creatively constructed, then the influence mechanism on cell performance is revealed by numerical simulation. Both transient and steady-state simulation methods are employed to monitor the whole process of paper-based microfluidic fuel cell. Conclusions show that the cell performance decreases with the increase of folding angle, the peak power density is as low as 1.71 mW/cm2, and the corresponding fuel utilization is only 2.73%. The changes in the absorbent pad shapes have little improvement on cell performance, thus the most direct way is increasing the absorbent pad volume. Moreover, materials with better water absorption capacity can increase the maximum current density to 28.70 mA/cm(2), and the appropriate increase of operating temperature can also increase the peak power density to 2.36 mW/cm(2), but the effect on the cell is significantly weakened if the temperature exceeds a certain limit. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the paper-based microfluidic fuel cell through numerical simulation. It reveals that the cell performance decreases with the increase of folding angle and increasing absorbent pad volume is the most direct way to improve performance. Additionally, using materials with better water absorption capacity and increasing the operating temperature appropriately can increase the cell's power density.