This study has focused on the implementation of a stack system for a novel design of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFCRoll). The issues affecting the commercialization of SOFCs are mainly based on durability and cost. The new design offers a number of advantages over the existing designs; it seeks to retain the specific advantages of both the tubular (high unit strength, no sealing problems) and planar arrangements (high power density). This design also aims to achieve low manufacturing cost by utilizing a cheap, easily scalable production technique: tape casting, together with co-firing all components, in one single step. In this study aspects of the design and operation of SOFCRoll stacks were studied particularly those affecting the single cell test reproducibility such as pre test quality control and scale up issues such as bundle and stack gas distribution. Initially the performance of single cells was characterized and the variation of their power output with temperature was observed. The maximum power, 0.7W at 800°C was achieved with a high silver content. The OCV and total resistance of this cell were 0.93V, 0.30Ω respectively. A standard pre-test quality control and current collection technique was introduced. At 800°C reproducible performance of 0.5W power obtained, average OCV was 0.935V and average series and polarization resistances of 0.18Ω and 0.19Ω was achieved respectively. Once single cell reproducibility was achieved, the design and operation of a 5 cell SOFCRoll bundle was investigated. A FLUENT CFD model was used to optimize the gas distribution in the five cell manifold design. The value of the model as a design tool was demonstrated by the comparison of 3 different gas manifold designs. The final manifold design M3 achieved 2.5W which is consistent with the 0.5W per a cell target. This manifold was then used as the basis for the development of a 25 cell stack which was built and tested. The 25 cell stack testing results were down to 0.35W per a cell. The performance drop highlighted the problem of fuel cell manufacturing reproducibility and also the importance of introducing reproducible manufacturing tequniques. That been the case for single cell manufacturing reproducibility issue, the fundamental concern for performance drop remains a design issue. To optimize the SOFCRoll design and to assist with the development program a single-cell CFD model was developed using FLUENT. The model was validated by comparison with data from experimental measurements for the single cell. The model work was used to predict the geometrical effect of the SOFCRoll tubular and the spiral gas channel configuration and current collector configuration. Results indicate the outlet gas flow velocity is higher around the spiral, near the gas inlet (the gas interring the cell preferentially flows around the spiral) therefore, velocity decrease as the gas moves along the cell. The lowest outlet velocity is registered opposite to the gas inlet, thus creating non-uniform gas distribution. The current density distribution is not uniform and is affected primarily by reactant flow distributions along the cell and possible current collection issues particularly around the spiral part of the cell.

Chau, Long Ho. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-82). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.III / 摘要 --- p.IV / PUBLICATIONS CORRESPOND TO THIS THESIS --- p.V / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.VI / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VII / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.IX / LIST OF TABLES --- p.XI / ABBREVIATIONS AND NOTATIONS --- p.XII / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Types of Biofuel Cells --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Properties of Using Enzymes in Bio-energy Generation Systems --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Application of Bio-energy Generation Systems --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objectives of the Project --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.5 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Working Principle of a Typical Fuel Cell --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Introduction of Enzymes and Co-enzymes --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- Functions and Activities of Glucose Dehydrogenase (GDH) --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4 --- Functions and Activities of Laccase --- p.11 / Chapter 2.5 --- Introduction of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) --- p.12 / Chapter 2.6 --- Introduction of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) --- p.13 / Chapter 2.7 --- Introduction of PdNPs --- p.14 / Chapter 2.8 --- Summary of Literature Review --- p.15 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- WORKING PRINCIPLE OF AN ENZYMATIC BIOFUEL CELL --- p.16 / Chapter 3.1 --- Enzymatic Biofuel Cell Using Glucose as a Fuel --- p.16 / Chapter 3.2 --- Deterministic Factors of the Fuel Cell´ةs Performance --- p.19 / Chapter 3.3 --- Energy --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.23 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- ENZYMATIC BIOFUEL CELL DESIGN --- p.24 / Chapter 4.1 --- Engineering Structure of the EBFC --- p.24 / Chapter 4.2 --- Chemical Structures of the EBFCs --- p.25 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- 1st Structure of EBFC - Au-Ll-CNTs-Ll-AuNPs-L2-{(GDH-NAD)/Laccase} --- p.26 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- 2nd Structure of EBFC - Au-Ll-CNTs-Ll-AuNPs-L2-{GDH/Laccase} --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- 3rd Structure of EBFC- Pd-Ll-CNTs-Ll-AuNPs-L2-{(GDH-NAD)/Laccase} --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- 4th Structure of EBFC - Pd-Ll -A uNPs-L2-{(GDH~NAD)/Laccase} --- p.29 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- 5th Structure of EBFC- Au-Ll-CNTs~L4'{(GDH-NAD)/Laccase} --- p.30 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- 6th Structure ofEBFC 一 Au-Ll-CNTs-{L3- NAD-GDH/L4-Laccase} --- p.31 / Chapter 4.3 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EBFCS --- p.34 / Chapter 5.1 --- Materials Preparation --- p.34 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Preparation of Linker 1 --- p.34 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Preparation of Linker 2 --- p.35 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Preparation of Linker 4 --- p.35 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Purification of Linkers --- p.35 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Verification of Linkers --- p.36 / Chapter 5.2 --- 3-D Micro Electrode Fabrication --- p.37 / Chapter 5.3 --- Electrode Modification --- p.40 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- 1st Structure of EBFC --- p.40 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- 2nd Structure of EBFC --- p.41 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- 3rd Structure of EBFC --- p.41 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- 4th Structure of EBFC --- p.42 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- 5th Structure of EBFC --- p.42 / Chapter 5.3.6 --- 6th Structure of EBFC --- p.42 / Chapter 5.4 --- Characterization --- p.43 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) --- p.43 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) & Energy-Disperse X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) --- p.46 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) --- p.47 / Chapter 5.5 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.52 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- RESULTS OF EBFCS --- p.53 / Chapter 6.1 --- Experimental Setup --- p.53 / Chapter 6.2 --- Results --- p.55 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Results of 1st EBFC --- p.55 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Results of 2nd EBFC --- p.57 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Results of 3rd EBFC --- p.58 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Results of 4th EBFC --- p.60 / Chapter 6.2.5 --- Results of 5th EBFC --- p.60 / Chapter 6.2.6 --- Results of 6th EBFC --- p.65 / Chapter 6.3 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.67 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- CONCLUSION --- p.69 / Chapter 7.1 --- Conclusion --- p.69 / Chapter 7.2 --- Future Work for the Biofuel Cell Project --- p.70 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Study the Effect of Temperature Change --- p.70 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Study the Effect of the Change of pH in Substrates --- p.70 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Further Modified the Electrodes to Enhance the Output Power --- p.70 / APPENDIX --- p.71 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.73

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Chiu, Ka Lok = 多孔生物遺態氧化銅/氧化鈰/氧化鋁之複合物料的製作及其定性分析 / 趙家樂. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chiu, Ka Lok = Duo kong sheng wu yi tai yang hua tong/yang hua shi/yang hua lu zhi fu he wu liao de zhi zuo ji qi ding xing fen xi / Zhao Jiale. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgment --- p.v / Table of contents --- p.vi / List of table captions --- p.x / List of figure captions --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Carbon monoxide (CO) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Production of hydrogen from methanol for fuel cell --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Catalysts for CO oxidation and methanol reforming --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Copper-based catalysts --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Mechanisms in the catalytic processes --- p.7 / Chapter 1.6 --- Synthesis of Cu-based catalysts --- p.10 / Chapter 1.7 --- Potential applications of the biomorphic CuO/CeO2/Al2O3 catalyst --- p.11 / Chapter 1.8 --- Objectives and the thesis layout --- p.12 / Chapter 1.9 --- References --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methods and Instrumentation --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- Sample preparations --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Syntheses of the biomorphic samples --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Syntheses of the control samples (R1 and R2) --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- Characterization --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Scanning electron microscope (SEM) --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Raman scattering (RS) spectroscopy --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Differential thermal analysis (DTA) --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Gas sorption surface analysis (GSSA) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Catalytic activity --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- CO oxidation --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Partial oxidation of methanol (POMe) --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Steam reforming of methanol (SRMe) --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4 --- References --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- "Results, discussions and characterization" --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1 --- Biomorphic samples --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Macrostructures --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- SEM and TEM results --- p.32 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- XRD analysis and chemical compositions --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- RS results --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- FTIR results --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Thermal property --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- Porosity analysis --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2 --- Control sample R1 --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Microstructures --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Surface area and porosity --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Thermal property --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- "XRD, FTIR and RS results" --- p.58 / Chapter 3.3 --- Control sample R2 --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Microstructures --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Surface area and porosity --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- "XRD, FTIR and RS results" --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Thermal property --- p.63 / Chapter 3.4 --- Formation mechanisms of the biomorphic samples --- p.64 / Chapter 3.5 --- Impacts of the Cu/Ce/Al ratios on the CuO dispersion --- p.66 / Chapter 3.6 --- Cotton biotemplate --- p.66 / Chapter 3.7 --- Formation mechanisms of R1 and R2 --- p.67 / Chapter 3.8 --- References --- p.69 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Evaluations of Catalytic Activities --- p.71 / Chapter 4.1 --- CO oxidation --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2 --- POMe --- p.79 / Chapter 4.3 --- SRMe --- p.91 / Chapter 4.4 --- Physical properties of the biomorphic samples before and after the reactions --- p.97 / Chapter 4.5 --- Structure of the sample and its catalytic performance --- p.102 / Chapter 4.6 --- CuO dispersion and the catalytic performance --- p.103 / Chapter 4.7 --- Al2O3 and CeO2 and the catalytic performance --- p.105 / Chapter 4.8 --- Catalytic performance of the biomorphic samples and R2 --- p.108 / Chapter 4.9 --- References --- p.109 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and suggestions for further studies --- p.110 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusions --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2 --- Future works --- p.112 / Chapter 5.3 --- References --- p.114

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Micro-direct methanol fuel cells (micro-DMFC) can be the power supply solution for the next generation of handheld devices. The applications of the micro-DMFCs require them to have high compactness, high performance, light weight, and long life. The major goal of this research project is to enhance the volumetric power density of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). A performance roadmap has been formulated and showed that patterning the planar membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to 2-D and 3-D corrugated manifolds can greatly increase the power generation with very modest overall volume increases. In this project, different manufacturing processes for patterning MEAs with corrugations have been investigated. A folding process was selected to form 2D triangular corrugations on MEAs for experimental validations of the performance prediction. The experimental results show that the volumetric power densities of the corrugated MEAs have improved by about 25% compared to the planar MEAs, which is lower than the expected performance enhancement. ABAQUS software was used to simulate the manufacturing process and identify the causes of deformations during manufacture. Experimental analysis methods like impedance analysis and 4 point-probes were used to quantify the performance loss and microstructure alteration during the forming process. A model was proposed to relate the expected performance of corrugated MEAs to manufacturing process variables. Finally, different stacking configurations and issues related to cell stacking for corrugated MEAs are also investigated.

This thesis presents a novel hybrid biological solid-state system which makes use of biological components in an in-vitro environment to produce functionality incapable by CMOS circuits alone. A "biocell" comprised of lipids and ion pumps is mated to a CMOS IC in a compact configuration and the IC is powered solely from adenosine triphosphate (ATP), often referred to as the 'life energy currency.' The biocell is a fuel cell that produces a membrane potential in the presence of ATP which is used by the IC as an electrical power supply. The design represents the first of a new class of devices combining both biological and solid-state components, which exploit the unique properties of transmembrane proteins in engineered solid-state systems. This work also suggests that the richness of function of biological ion channels and pumps, functionality that is impossible to achieve in CMOS alone, may be exploited in systems that combine engineered transmembrane proteins as biological components integrated with solid-state devices.