Fuel cells generate electricity by continuously reacting a fuel with oxygen

Fuel cells generate electricity by continuously reacting a fuel with oxygen. Unlike energy storage cells (batteries) that hold a finite amount of chemical energy, fuel cells can generate electricity continuously as long as fuel and oxygen are provided. Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as a promising power source for electric vehicles, providing an alternative to traditional internal combustion engines and batteries.

There are two main types of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells: acidic and alkaline. Both types use hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen as the oxidant, with water being the only by-product.

How acidic hydrogen fuel cells work:

1. Hydrogen oxidation at the anode - At the anode, H₂ is split into protons (H⁺) and electrons (e^-) with the help of a platinum catalyst.
2. Proton migration through the electrolyte - The protons move through the electrolyte membrane, which only allows protons to pass. This forces the electrons to travel through an external circuit to get to the cathode.
3. Electron flow through the external circuit - The electrons flowing through the external circuit generate an electric current that can power devices.
4. Oxygen reduction at the cathode - Oxygen (O₂) at the cathode combines with the protons from the anode and the electrons from the circuit to produce water (H₂O).

The overall reaction in the acidic fuel cell is:

2H_2(g) + O_2(g) ➔ 2H₂O_(l)

The specific reactions at each electrode are:

• Negative electrode: H_2(g) ➔ 2H⁺_(aq) + 2e^-
• Positive electrode: 1⁄2O_2(g) + 2H⁺_(aq) + 2e^- ➔ H₂O_(l)

How alkaline hydrogen fuel cells work:

1. Hydrogen oxidation at the anode - At the anode, hydrogen (H₂) reacts with hydroxide ions (OH^-) to produce water (H₂O) and electrons (e^-).
2. Hydroxide ion migration through the electrolyte - Hydroxide ions move through the electrolyte membrane, which only allows OH^- ions to pass. This forces the electrons to travel through an external circuit to get to the cathode.
3. Electron flow through the external circuit - The electrons flowing through the external circuit generate an electric current that can power devices.
4. Oxygen reduction at the cathode - Oxygen (O₂) at the cathode combines with water and the electrons from the circuit to produce OH^- ions.

The overall reaction in the alkaline fuel cell is the same as in the acidic fuel cell.

However, the specific reactions at each electrode are different:

• Negative electrode: 2H_2(g) + 4OH^-_(aq) ➔ 4H₂O_(l) + 4e^-
• Positive electrode: O_2(g) + 2H₂O_(l) + 4e^- ➔ 4OH^-_(aq)

Alternative fuels for fuel cells

Fuel cells are not limited to pure hydrogen. Researchers are developing fuel cells that can use hydrogen-rich fuels, such as methanol and ethanol, which can be converted into H₂ using a reformer.

Moreover, a new generation of fuel cells has been developed that can directly use alcohols without needing to reform them into hydrogen.

In these advanced fuel cells, the alcohol undergoes oxidation at the anode in the presence of water.

For example, in a methanol fuel cell:

1. Methanol is oxidised at the anode: CH_3_OH_(aq)_ + H_2_O_(l)_ ➔ CO_2(g)_ + 6H^+^(aq) + 6e^−^

2. The generated H⁺ ions pass through the electrolyte and are subsequently reduced to water at the cathode: 3⁄2O_2(g)_ + 6H^+^(aq) **+6e^−^ ➔ 3H_2_O_(l)_

The overall reaction is:

CH₃OH_(g) + 3⁄2O_2(g) ➔ CO_2(g) + 2H₂O_(l)