Methods of operating fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell is disclosed which is formed on a semiconductor wafer by etching channel in the wafer and forming electronics on the substrate electronically coupled to the fuel cell that controls generation of power by the fuel cell through electrical communication with the fuel cell. A hydrogen fuel is admitted into one of the divided channels and an oxidant into the other. The hydrogen reacts with a catalyst formed on an anode electrode at the hydrogen side of the channel to release hydrogen ions (protons) which are absorbed into the PEM. The protons migrate through the PEM and recombine with return hydrogen electrons on a cathode electrode on the oxygen side of the PEM and the oxygen to form water.

1 . A method of forming a fuel cell, comprising: 
 a) forming a fuel cell on a substrate; and    b) forming electronics on the substrate, the electronics electrically coupled to the fuel cell and configured to control generation of power by the fuel cell through electrical communication with the fuel cell.    
     
     
         2 . A method of operating a fuel cell, comprising: 
 a) providing a plurality of fuel cells configured to convert fuel and oxidant into power; and    b) selectively controlling generation of power by the plurality of fuel cells in a presence of the fuel and oxidant through electrical control of an electrical element coupled to at least a subset of the plurality of fuel cells.