Fuel Cells

Presented By:
-Taylor Morton
-Chris Irvine
Overview
QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Not self contained
Reactants enter cell
Products leave cell
Use combustion to produce electricity
E
-
transferred
through external
circuit
Source: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/propulsion/jet/combustion.gif
PEM
(Proton Exchange Membrane)
A.K.A. Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Operating temp. = 80C
Requires electrocatalyst
Electrodes
Platinum based
Graphite
Sulfonated perfluroethylene

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
PEM continued
Anode: 2H
2
(g) ---> 4H
+
(aq) + 4e
-
Cathode: O
2
(g) + 4H
+
(aq) + 4e
-
---->
2H
2
O(g)
Overall: 2H
2
(g) + O
2
(g) ----> 2H
2
O(g)
Process
1. 2 H
2
absorbed
2. 2 e
-
from each H
2
travel externally
3. 2H
+
hydrate and migrate
4. O
2
absorbs e
-
5. O
2
-
receives H
+
6. H
2
0 formed


Source: http://physics.nist.gov/MajResFac/NIF/Images/FuelCellBasic.gif
Efficiency
No Pollutants
Other environmental impact
How is H
2
obtained?
Viability
PEM = 75%
Coal-fired = 40%
Petroleum in ICE = 25%

Microbial Fuel Cells
Using microorganisms to generate
energy
What it is!
Converts chemical energy to electrical
energy by the catalytic reaction of
microorganisms
Exact same principle as a voltaic cell,
only using the respiration of bacteria to
generate electricity
Mediated
Methylene Blue, thionine, or humic acid
Mediator acts as electrolyte
Facilitates e
-
transfer from microbial cells to the
electrode
Mediator is necessary because most microbes
are electrochemically inactive
Its just science
mediator crosses the outer membrane
Accepts e
-
that would normally be taken up
by O
2

e
-
laden mediator exits cell and transports e
-

to anode
after e
-
deposition, mediator returns to
original oxidized state
Mediator-less: S. putrefaciens
Electrochemically
active bacteria usually
have cytochromes (or
other redox enzyme)
in their outer
membranes that can
transfer e
-
e
-
are carried directly
to the anode
C
12
H
22
O
11
+ 13H
2
O --->
12CO
2
+ 48H
+
+ 48e
-

The biofilm is attached
to the anode
Anaerobic conditions
force bacteria to
respire anaerobically
(duh)

Now what?
Waste Water Plants
Power stations based on plants/algae