Abstract
In this paper, a novel design of PDMS-based bendable electrodes with microstructures is proposed for flexible proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The design of the bendable electrodes incorporates micro-structured PDMS-film to increase the reaction area and fuel pass-way, conducting layer Au with strong conjugation to the PDMS-microstructures for electron conduction, and Pt catalyst for fuel reaction. The electrodes perform ISO class 0 in adhesion test and only increase 6.6% resistance under 2/cm bending curvature. The half-cell test yields a performance of 12.7~13.8mA/cm-2 at 0.6V under serious bending conditions and also 2.55mW/cm2 at 0.321V in fuel cell test.