Abstract:
A microfuel cell includes a substrate and a plurality of spaced-apart PEM dividers extending outwardly to define anodic and cathodic microfluidic channels. An anodic catalyst/electrode lines at least a portion of the anodic microfluidic channels, and a cathodic catalyst/electrode lines at least a portion of the cathodic microfluidic channels. Each anodic and cathodic catalyst/electrode may extend beneath an adjacent portion of a PEM divider in some embodiments. Alternately, the microfuel cell may include a plurality of stacked substrates, in which a first substrate has first microfluidic fuel cell reactant channels. A PEM layer may be adjacent the first surface of the first substrate, an anodic catalyst/electrode layer may be adjacent one side of the PEM layer, and a cathodic catalyst/electrode layer may be adjacent an opposite side of the PEM layer. An adhesive layer may secure the first substrate to an adjacent substrate defining at least a second microfluidic fuel cell reactant channel.
Abstract:
A planarization method for improving the planarity of electronic devices integrated on a semiconductor substrate (1), which devices comprise a plurality of active elements formed with gate regions (2) which stand proud of the substrate (1) surface and define trench regions (3) therebetween. The method provides for the deposition, within said trench regions (3), of a dielectric stack structure comprising a first layer (4) of undoped oxide, a second layer (5) of oxide deposited over said first layer (4), and a third layer (6) of capping oxide. Also provided are two planarizing substeps consisting of a chemio-mechanical clearing substep followed by a dry etch-back substep to expose the top surfaces of said gate regions (2).