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AA fuel cell
by guyfrom7up on December 22, 2007 Table of Contents intro: AA fuel cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 2: battery disection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 3: mark the tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 4: The design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 5: wind coils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 6: solder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 7: insert the alluminum barrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 8: fill with water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 9: to charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Make Magazine Special Offer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

intro: AA fuel cell

Big thanks to NachoMahma for the wire, without him it wouldn't be possible for this experiment. This was an experiment to make a AA fuel cell with house hold parts (plus platinum Wire), but it failed. In a performence test it produced an unstead 2 - 1.5 volts for 10 seconds, yet it couldn't even light up a red LED. With that said here's the AA hydrogen fuel cell!

Image Notes 1. Finished Fuel Cell

step 1: Materials
2 cheap AA (not shown) solder nut and bolt platinum wire a tube that's the size of an AA, I made one from a 5cc syringe glue a bit of aluminum water

Image Notes 1. I used 2 of these since it was easier 2. I didn't use this 3. a section of a 5cc syringe 4. best super glue ever 5. bolt 6. a section of alluminum

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

step 2: battery disection

For safty, use gloves for this, and I don't have pictures because I didn't want to get black powder all over my camera. Take apart both AA's to get the negative caps. The cheaper the battery, the easier it is. You could only take apart 1 AA and use positive and negative caps, but I found soldering the negative cap was easier.

step 3: mark the tube

Mark the tube with a sharpie either 1/3 the way in or 2/3 the way in, it doesn't matter, it's all relative.

Image Notes 1. 1/3

step 4: The design

Here's the design of what this is going to look like in the end.

step 5: wind coils

wind coils of platinum around the bolt so you can screw off the bolt. Make the coils a tiny bit shorter than each side.

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

Image Notes 1. platinum wire

Image Notes 1. + coil 2. - coil

step 6: solder
turn up you soldering iron to maybe around 650F Make a giant blob of solder on the terminal, insert the coil and wait about 10 seconds for the solder to solidify. Repeat for the shorter coil.

Image Notes 1. + coil 2. - coil

step 7: insert the alluminum barrier

insert the aluminum barrier on the mark you marked earlier. make it water tight with super glue around the perimeter. this is easier if you put it on your not and bolt and adjust the nut to make it level.

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

step 8: fill with water

fill one cavity with water (leave some gap, I'd say about 3/4 to 7/8 full), super glue the coil and terminal on, then do the same on the othe rside.

Image Notes 1. Finished Fuel Cell

step 9: to charge
to charge it hook up the larger cavity to the - and the smaller cavity to the +. Use at least 9 volts. This will create hydrogen and oxygen bubbles, which the platinum can convert back into electricity.

Related Instructables

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 208 comments
Aug 4, 2008. 8:36 PM REPLY

sovereign says:
where did you find platinum wire? the stuff's like 1600 bucks an ounce

PKTraceur says:
8 dollars an ounce, actually. Gold is 456 per ounce, however. -PKT

May 11, 2009. 11:41 AM REPLY

lasermaster3531 says:
i think its platinum coated wire.

Jan 2, 2009. 6:37 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:
plutonium? isn't that stuff radioactive?

Mar 18, 2009. 6:07 PM REPLY

lasermaster3531 says:

Mar 19, 2009. 3:44 PM REPLY PLATINUM! is worth more than gold. it is a light silvery-white metal and it is harder than gold but softer than copper. it is also used as a catalyst for fuel cells. plutonium, on the other hand, is very heavy, highly radioactive, and very dangerous. jeez, get your elements straight.

ReCreate says:
PLATINUM PLUTONIUM OMG THEYRE THE SAME Really its like a one letter diffirence Geez...

Mar 19, 2009. 3:47 PM REPLY

_Ko0LaiD_ says:
You mean 2 letter difference and a switch.

May 10, 2009. 12:20 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:
Thanks smarty pants,(No offense meant) :P

May 10, 2009. 1:01 PM REPLY

froggyman says:
why dont you wear a plutonium brancelet instead of a platinum branclet?

Mar 19, 2009. 6:05 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:

Mar 19, 2009. 9:41 PM REPLY Oh sure where can i get a plutonium bracelet? Ill keep it with me in my grave so that when anyone comes by to steal my 5 billion dollars under me will die

zimmemic25 says:

Apr 21, 2009. 11:59 AM REPLY he wouldnt. if he had enough time to run away, and takes a shower using one of these anti-radioactive shampoos, and then eats some (forgot the word in english... its a medicine against some radioactive reactions... was been used as a color too) every day for 1 week, he could survive it

ReCreate says:
Ill just tell my ghostly friends to not let him come:P

Apr 21, 2009. 1:43 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

nice-girls says:
commmmmmmmon

May 11, 2009. 11:05 AM REPLY

nice-girls says:
what did you mean by: 'this project didn't work ????? you wrote this experiment and now you yourself says that it doesnt work?

Feb 25, 2009. 12:55 AM REPLY

kvnsdlr says:

Apr 24, 2009. 12:04 PM REPLY 90% of experiments fail and that dear is how we learn. What's a nice girl doing in a place like this, ahhh, I see, you are a catalyst!!!

nice-girls says:
yeah maybe you are right ! but who said a nice girl doesnt like to learn more?

May 10, 2009. 11:45 AM REPLY

nice-girls says:
Heeey I reeeaaalllly missed you. How is every thing going on? please let me know: which of the elements in this cell do the main role???? The water? Can we charge one cell several time and receiving the same voltage??(without changing the water)??? Im waitiiing Thank you

May 10, 2009. 11:43 AM REPLY

imakethings says:
how long does this last?

Apr 25, 2009. 10:42 PM REPLY

rookie1 says:

Apr 24, 2009. 11:13 AM REPLY Thanks for the quick answer. Good instructable. How big would a cell have to be to say.. run a house? I'd be interested in something with a life style-practical application. Yeah, I'm a hippie at heart.

guyfrom7up says:

Apr 24, 2009. 7:54 PM REPLY I'm not sure how big each individual cell would be, but you'd need several (or tons) in series (depending on your setup) to get enough voltage for your house. the individual size of each cell would determine the battery life. Also, you need some other divider material that's not aluminum, cause as the instructable said, it didn't work.

rookie1 says:

Apr 22, 2009. 3:40 PM REPLY I guess this might be a dumb question but... Why won't copper work? Or lead and acid which makes auto batteries work. I admit, I don't have a mechanical or scientific bone in my body but I'd still like my question answered.

guyfrom7up says:

Apr 22, 2009. 4:23 PM REPLY for the electrodes? Platinum is a catalyst that will allow the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to turn back into water and electricity as a byproduct. Other metals won't do that

alwinovich says:
anyone thinking abou the fact that it only takes 1 mililiter water to produce about 1.86 liters of hydroxy gas

Dec 28, 2008. 3:17 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:
i highly doubt it

Apr 21, 2009. 1:50 PM REPLY

cumpi says:
just one question: if i burn it in a small engine( like car engine 900cc) how far,long can I operate the engine with this 1.86 liter of Hydroxy . like 1-2 minutes or 10-15?? like my car goes with gas and takes 12 liter/100 km that is roughly 80-90 min engine running time.

Mar 16, 2009. 6:49 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

zimmemic25 says:
the best way to use hydrogen is the way shown in this instructable. use platinum electrodes to make electricity and then use that electricity to power an electric car

Apr 21, 2009. 12:03 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:
so if the hydrogen gas is exposed to platinum,the platinum generates electricity?

Apr 21, 2009. 1:51 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:
So this will replace a AA battery?

Mar 19, 2009. 3:49 PM REPLY

guyfrom7up says:
it would have if it would have worked it's the same size

Mar 19, 2009. 5:22 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:
so all you need to do is get it to work,Right? What should be easy

Mar 19, 2009. 9:40 PM REPLY

zimmemic25 says:
it worked, but it didn't produce enough energy to use it as a AA battery. it produced 1-2Volt (unstable voltage) for 10 seconds. and the only way to change that is to find a way to get more hydrogen/oxygen into that little space of an AA cell

Apr 21, 2009. 12:01 PM REPLY

ReCreate says:
compress?

Apr 21, 2009. 1:47 PM REPLY

dio127 says:
think about using palladium? it reacts better with hydrogen

Apr 21, 2009. 10:36 AM REPLY

nice-girls says:
you know,you disappointed me really. you talked like a person comming from 20th century

Mar 31, 2009. 12:25 PM REPLY

guyfrom7up says:
I don't know anything about hydrogen as a fuel for a car, I've had no expierience with it and I'm not going to risk MY car :P as to Crumpi: I don't think it's the same thing, I don't think bones contain platinum?

Mar 16, 2009. 5:15 PM REPLY

nice-girls says:

Mar 16, 2009. 12:51 PM REPLY oh yeah of course you have life honey. well maybe you are right but with the structure I told you I received about 2 volts (with no Amps actually) so its not completly useless ha? hey does your car have a hydrogen generator? please look at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRCnSQA37Zs&feature=related I downloaded it.I wanna make one would you help me?pleaseeeeeee Im waitiiiiiiing

nice-girls says:
"You are going to need a different setup than what I used" forexample how?whats your suggestion? by the way ,Have you heard about a bacteria which can electrolysis the water? actually I heard about it somewhere but I dont know the name? Do you know? (it would be so interesting to use a bacteria instead of batteries!!)

Feb 27, 2009. 10:26 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

cumpi says:
it sounds very very interesting. ( I think in secret labs Genetics are already trying to geneticly modify bacterias to use in fuell cells)

Mar 16, 2009. 6:29 AM REPLY

nice-girls says:
You know as you said I tried to change the setup I used long piece of Mg instead of Al and two piece of Carbon instead of platinum and it just changed a bit. I tried Cu &... as you said it didnt work as I expected. Have you Anything to say?

Mar 14, 2009. 10:44 AM REPLY

guyfrom7up says:
I have a life :P

Mar 15, 2009. 12:09 PM REPLY

the whole metal barrier thing doesn't work, it makes it's self work, yet at the same time shorts it's self out, making nothing. You need some sort of permeable membrane (people had a conversation below). You need platinum, carbon won't work. Platinum is a catalyst that converts the hydrogen and oxygen into water and electrcity, carbon won't do that.

cumpi says:

Mar 16, 2009. 6:27 AM REPLY hi my friend had a serious broken bones when he was young and after he managed to keep the platinum from his bones can it be used or this medical "stuff" does not work in this set up?

nice-girls says:
If you are here so why dont you answer me?hey Im waitiiiiiiing

Mar 15, 2009. 1:25 AM REPLY

nice-girls says:
heeyy i miissed you alottt .where are you?

Mar 12, 2009. 9:42 AM REPLY

guyfrom7up says:
I'm here, lol

Mar 12, 2009. 3:17 PM REPLY

nice-girls says:
what about Amper?how we can produce more?

Feb 26, 2009. 10:35 AM REPLY

guyfrom7up says:
put several in parallel You are going to need a different setup than what I used, remember, mine didn't work!

Feb 26, 2009. 2:52 PM REPLY

nice-girls says:
why dont you think of another way to produce more voltage ? I mean with different tools and elements? forexample using a bigger cell or Na2So4 instead of salt? havent you think of any other way?

Feb 25, 2009. 11:26 AM REPLY

guyfrom7up says:
well, a way of producing higher voltage is to put several in series elements: Well, one of the only elements in this situation that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity is platinum.

Feb 25, 2009. 5:00 PM REPLY

The impurities in the water (like salt) only make it conductive so that electric current can pass through and split water molecules. With salt as the impurities, it also creates deadly chlorine gas. Bigger cell could just store more energy In the into I wrote that this was a "failed experiment" and the rest of the instructable is just what I did.

http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/

TheScientist says:
The reason that it isn't working is because you need two sides to the cell, that have to be different.

Jan 12, 2008. 9:30 PM REPLY

Currently all you are doing is electrolysis of water, with platinum electrodes, and the reason that it is not giving electricity back out is because there is no driving force for converting the oxygen and hydrogen back to water. For starters, I'd suggest looking up "electrochemistry." You will need to have a different half-cell on either side of a permeable barrier (permeable to ions, not just electrons). In fact, just have a look at this page and it explains a fair bit: electrochemistry depending on what you use as the two reaction "half cells," you will get a different voltage. To recharge the system, it's as simple as driving the reaction backwards by supplying an external voltage in the opposite direction, which is greater than the voltage that can be produced! the amount of current that can be generated is proportional to the surface area of the electrodes, and the total amount of charge that you can get out of the system is related to the concentrations of the salt solutions, and the total size of the electrodes. It will only have a limited life-time though, as at least one of the electrodes is going to be sacrificial (it will be consumed as the reaction progresses) any questions, just reply to this comment and I can try to help you understand! :-)

hivoltage says:

Jan 12, 2008. 10:59 PM REPLY actually, they are not attempting to create a battery. a fuel cell turns hydrogen and oxygen back into water, creating electricity. normally this doesnt happen by itself, but since the hydrogen is stuck as bubbles to one wire and oxgen to the other, the reaction reverses to create water and electricity. the whole process is made possible because the platinum acts as a catalyst. the idea is shown at this site:[http://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/fuel_cell/fuel_cell.html scitoys.com]

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http://www.instructables.com/id/AA-fuel-cell/