In-membrane micro fuel cell

In combination:

• a fuel cell, comprising an electrically-insulating membrane that is permissive to the flow of protons and other cations, said membrane having a first membrane surface and a second membrane surface opposite said first membrane surface, a pair of non-intersecting channels formed in said first membrane surface, each of said channels having a respective bottom surface located between said first membrane surface and said second membrane surface, a respective inboard surface extending from said bottom surface to said first membrane surface, and a respective outboard surface opposite said inboard surface and extending from said bottom surface to said first membrane surface, said inboard surfaces defining a membrane ridge that separates said inboard surfaces from one another, and a pair of electrically-conductive electrodes, each of said electrodes associated with a corresponding one of said pair of channels, each of said electrodes being coextensive with at least a portion of at least one said bottom surface, said inboard surface, and said outboard surface of said associated channel, each of said electrodes having a respective exposed catalytic surface, said catalytic surface of one of said pair of electrodes having properties for promoting the liberation of an electron from a chemical specie, and said catalytic surface of the other of said pair of electrodes having properties for promoting the combination of an electron with another chemical specie, each of said electrodes being electrically-insulated from one another;
• and
• a biosensor fabricated in said membrane.

In combination:

• a fuel cell, comprising an electrically-insulating membrane that is permissive to the flow of protons and other cations, said membrane having a first membrane surface and a second membrane surface opposite said first membrane surface, a pair of non-intersecting channels formed in said first membrane surface, each of said channels having a respective bottom surface located between said first membrane surface and said second membrane surface, a respective inboard surface extending from said bottom surface to said first membrane surface, and a respective outboard surface opposite said inboard surface and extending from said bottom surface to said first membrane surface, said inboard surfaces defining a membrane ridge that separates said inboard surfaces from one another, and a pair of electrically-conductive electrodes, each of said electrodes associated with a corresponding one of said pair of channels, each of said electrodes being coextensive with at least a portion of at least one said bottom surface, said inboard surface, and said outboard surface of said associated channel, each of said electrodes having a respective exposed catalytic surface, said catalytic surface of one of said pair of electrodes having properties for promoting the liberation of an electron from a chemical specie, and said catalytic surface of the other of said pair of electrodes having properties for promoting the combination of an electron with another chemical specie, each of said electrodes being electrically-insulated from one another;
• and
• an electrochemical sensor fabricated in said membrane.

In combination:

• a fuel cell, comprising an electrically-insulating membrane that is permissive to the flow of protons, said membrane having a first membrane surface and a second membrane surface opposite said first membrane surface, a pair of non-intersecting channels formed in said first membrane surface, each of said channels having a respective bottom surface located between said first membrane surface and said second membrane surface, a respective inboard surface extending from said bottom surface to said first membrane surface, and a respective outboard surface opposite said inboard surface and extending from said bottom surface to said first membrane surface, said inboard surfaces defining a membrane ridge that separates said inboard surfaces from one another, and a pair of electrically-conductive electrodes, each of said electrodes associated with a corresponding one of said pair of channels, each of said electrodes being coextensive with at least a portion of at least one said bottom surface, said inboard surface, and said outboard surface of said associated channel, each of said electrodes having a respective exposed catalytic surface, said catalytic surface of one of said pair of electrodes having properties for promoting the liberation of an electron from a chemical specie, and said catalytic surface of the other of said pair of electrodes having properties for promoting the combination of an electron with another chemical specie, each of said electrodes being electrically-insulated from one another;
• and
• a microfluidic device fabricated in said membrane.