Neah Power Systems

Technology
	Our Solution
	Prototype

Our Solution

Patented Silicon-Based Architecture

Neah Power Systems is developing an innovative approach based upon a silicon architecture 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. This 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 allows for higher levels of exposure of reactants, electrolyte, and catalyst the interaction required for electricity generation.

Taken together, this 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:

Higher power densities enable lighter-weight, smaller form-factors and drive down costs. The practical result is that Neah Power’s fuel cell is expected fit within a notebook PCs internal battery cavity instead of outside the computer.

Water Vapor Captured in Cartridge

Importantly, the Neah Power fuel cell captures water vapor by-products in the fuel cartridge. Other fuel cell designs vent water vapor, which can be messy and have adverse effects on sophisticated electronic gear.

Silicon is Pragmatic and Scalable

By using silicon, Neah Power is taking advantage of decades of process and material expertise from the integrated-circuit (IC) industry. Just as improvements have been made in silicon-based microprocessors, Neah Power’s silicon-based design is pragmatic and scalable—more powerful and longer-lasting fuel cells in smaller sizes are expected to be possible to meet the needs of the next generation of high-powered portable electronic products.