Development of a fully integrated micro-scale fuel reformer over platinum (Pt) catalyst based on low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) tape technology

Applying low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) tape technology on constructing complex 3-D reacting flow and microfluidic devices has drawn increasing attention. In this paper, we developed a fully integrated micro-scale fuel reformer over Pt catalyst using LTCC tape technology, and we showed that the microfluidic channels and Pt catalytic layers in a LTCC reformer can be integrated by direct co-firing without additional processes. Current study also compared the effect of different thicknesses of Pt catalyst (10 and 40 nm) in LTCC reformers. As a source of hydrocarbon, methanol was used and the production of hydrocarbon fuels, including hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane, was measured by gas chromatography. Among different parameters tested, our results revealed that a LTCC reformer coated with 10-nm Pt catalyst can generate most hydrocarbon fuels at a flow rate of 1 ml/h at a temperature of 300°C. Overall, LTCC tape technology is a simple, reliable method to fabricate a fully integrated micro fuel reformer.