Innovative power

US-based Neah Power Systems is taking an innovative approach to  fuel cell development that is expected to address the traditional challenges associated with micro fuel cells.

It all begins with porous silicon, used as the core of the fuel cell engine. This architecture eliminates the need for the polymer membrane used in traditional PEM-based fuel cells. The porus silicon structure, approximately 400 microns deep, is much thicker than the 10-micron depth of a membrane in a traditional PEM-based cell. This design is expected to enable a much larger reaction surface area, enabling high power in a small form-factor.

Liquid electrolyte flows throughout the porous silicon substrate . This, the company says, allows for higher levels of exposure of reactants, electrolyte, and catalyst the interaction required for electricity generation.

Taken together, the patented silicon-based architecture is designed to result in higher levels of efficiency and electro-chemical activity, which translate into much higher power densities when compared with traditional PEM-based designs.