A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that generates electricity by combining hydrogen (or other fuels)

with oxygen from the air, without the need for combustion. It is a clean and efficient power source that
produces electricity, water, and heat as byproducts.

Fuel cells work on the principle of redox reactions, involving the oxidation of a fuel at the anode and the
reduction of an oxidant at the cathode. The most common type of fuel cell is the proton exchange
membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which uses hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen from the air as the oxidant.
The chemical reactions within the cell produce a flow of electrons through an external circuit,
generating electrical energy.

Here's the basic process that occurs in a hydrogen fuel cell:

Hydrogen gas is supplied to the anode (negative electrode) of the fuel cell.

Oxygen from the air is supplied to the cathode (positive electrode) of the fuel cell.

At the anode, hydrogen molecules are split into protons and electrons through an electrochemical
reaction.

The protons move through a proton-exchange membrane, while the electrons are forced to flow
through an external circuit, generating an electric current.

At the cathode, oxygen molecules combine with the protons that have traveled through the membrane,
and electrons from the external circuit to produce water as a byproduct.

The overall chemical reaction in a hydrogen fuel cell is: 2H2 (hydrogen) + O2 (oxygen) → 2H2O (water) +
electrical energy.

Fuel cells are considered an environmentally friendly energy technology because they do not produce
harmful emissions like those from conventional combustion processes. They are highly efficient and can
be used in various applications, including transportation (such as fuel cell vehicles), backup power
systems, distributed power generation, and even in some portable electronic devices. However,
challenges still exist in terms of hydrogen storage and infrastructure, which limit their widespread
adoption in certain sectors. Nonetheless, ongoing research and development aim to overcome these
hurdles and unlock the full potential of fuel cell technology.