Synergistic Integration of Hydrogen Peroxide Powered Valveless Micropumps and Membraneless Fuel Cells: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Catalytic valveless micropumps, and membraneless fuel cells are the class of devices that utilize the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into water and oxygen. Nonetheless, a significant obstacle that endures within the discipline pertains to the pragmatic open circuit potential (OCP) of hydrogen peroxide FCs (H₂O₂ FCs), which fails to meet the theoretical OCP. Additionally, bubble formation significantly contributes to this disparity, as it disrupts the electrolyte's uniformity and interferes with reaction dynamics. In addition, issues such as catalyst degradation and poor kinetics can impact the overall cell efficiency. The development of high-performance H₂O₂-FCs necessitates the incorporation of selective electrocatalysts with a high surface area. However, porous micro-structures of the electrode impedes the transport of fuel and the removal of reaction byproducts, thereby hindering the attainment of technologically significant rates. To address these challenges, including bubble formation, the review highlights the potential of integrating electrokinetic and bubble-driven micropumps. An alternative approach involves the spatiotemporal separation of fuel and oxidizer through the use of laminar flow-based fuel cell (LFFC). The present review addresses multifaceted challenges of H₂O₂-powered FCs, and proposes integration of electrokinetic and bubble-driven micropumps, emphasizing the critical role of bubble management in improving H2O2 FC performance.