A direct alcohol fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention relates to a direct alcohol fuel cell comprising a housing containing a proton exchange membrane (PEM) separating an anode section from a cathode section, which anode section and which cathode section are contained in the housing, the cathode section comprising a cathode collection element electrically connected to a cathode catalyst, which cathode catalyst is in diffusive communication with a gaseous oxidant, and the anode section comprising an anode collection element electrically connected to an anode catalyst, and a pervaporation membrane located at a spacing distance from the PEM, which pervaporation membrane provides diffusive communication between the anode catalyst and a fuel supply, wherein the housing comprises one or more venting holes providing fluid communication between the anode section and the ambient environment, which venting hole has or which venting holes have a largest dimension in the range of 25 μm to 300 μm, the venting hole being located within the spacing distance. The fuel cell is suited for a microelectronic device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.