How is a hydrogen fuel cell made?
The basic construction of a hydrogen fuel cell consists of two electrodes, an electrolyte, a fuel (hydrogen) and a power supply. Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water and generate heat. At the anode, hydrogen is stripped of its electron and its proton is made to pass through the electrolyte.
How do you make a fuel cell?
The easiest and lowest cost method for creating your first fuel cell stack is screen-printing. The two electrode layers and the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) need to be fused together using temperature and pressure for proper flow of the electrons and protons in the fuel cell after the chemical reaction.
Which is produced during h2 o2 fuel cell?
A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction, not combustion. In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity, heat, and water.
What materials are needed to make a fuel cell?
The primary components of a fuel cell are an ion conducting electrolyte, a cathode, and an anode, as shown schematically in Fig. 1. In the simplest example, a fuel such as hydrogen is brought into the anode compartment and an oxidant, typically oxygen, into the cathode compartment.
Can you make your own hydrogen fuel?
Can you generate hydrogen at home? Yes, it’s possible to generate hydrogen in a science fair kind of way by electrolysing water. A liter of water will get you about 111 grams of hydrogen if you can capture it all. A kilogram of hydrogen is the fuel cell car equivalent to a gallon of gas.
How much voltage does a hydrogen fuel cell produce?
A typical hydrogen fuel cell produces 0.5 V to 0.8 V per cell. To increase the voltage individual cells can be connected in series.
Can I make my own hydrogen fuel?
There are several ways to produce hydrogen: Natural Gas Reforming/Gasification: Synthesis gas—a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a small amount of carbon dioxide—is created by reacting natural gas with high-temperature steam. The carbon monoxide is reacted with water to produce additional hydrogen.
How do you make hydrogen fuel cells?
To produce hydrogen, it must be separated from the other elements in the molecules where it occurs. There are many different sources of hydrogen and ways for producing it for use as a fuel. The two most common methods for producing hydrogen are steam-methane reforming and electrolysis (splitting water with electricity.
What metal is used in hydrogen fuel cells?
platinum
Hydrogen-fuel-cell technology, however, relies on platinum, which can withstand higher temperatures than other metals. A fuel cell needs platinum for the catalyst that separates hydrogen into protons and electrons, which then generate the electrical current, making it an alternative to battery-powered vehicles.
How much electricity does a hydrogen fuel cell produce?
According to the US Department of Energy, one fuel cell produces around 0.5 to one volt of electricity. This is not enough to power even the smallest electrical devices.