• Hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs) are a type of electrochemical cell.
• HFCs generate electricity by reduction
and oxidation reactions within the cell.
• They use three main components, a
fuel, an oxidant and an electrolyte.
• HFCs operate like batteries, although
they require external fuel.
• HFCs are a thermodynamically open
system.
• HFCs use hydrogen as a fuel, oxygen as
an oxidant, a proton exchange membrane as an electrolyte, and emit only water as waste. How do they work? • Fuel (H2) is first transported to the anode of the cell
• Fuel undergoes the anode
reaction
• Anode reaction splits the fuel
into H+ (a proton) and e-
• Protons pass through the
electrolyte to the cathode
• Electrons can not pass through
the electrolyte, and must travel through an external circuit which creates a usable electric current
• Protons and electrons reach
the cathode, and undergo the cathode reaction Chemistry behind the technology
Oxidation Reduction
At the anode of the cell, a At the cathode of the cell, a
catalyst (platinum powder) second catalyst (nickel) is used to is used to separate the recombine the protons, proton from the electron in electrons, and oxygen atoms to the hydrogen fuel. form water. Anode half-reaction: Cathode half- reaction: 2H2 4H+ + 4e- 4H+ + O2 + 4e- 2H2O Eo = 0.00V Eo = 0.68V Uses of hydrogen fuel cells There are many different uses of fuel cells being utilized right now. Some of these uses are… • Power sources for vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses and even boats and submarines
• Power sources for spacecraft, remote weather stations and military technology
• Batteries for electronics such as laptops and smart phones
• Sources for uninterruptable power supplies.
Problems regarding hydrogen fuel cells • Lack of hydrogen infrastructure
• Need for refueling stations
• Lack of consumer distribution system
• Cost of hydrogen fuel cells
• 2009 Department of Energy estimated $61/kw
• Honda FCX Clarity costs about half a million dollars to make