Related topics: energy , carbon nanotube , hydrogen , catalyst , platinum
Fuel cell
hideA fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device. It produces electricity from fuel (on the anode side) and an oxidant (on the cathode side), which react in the presence of an electrolyte. The reactants flow into the cell, and the reaction products flow out of it, while the electrolyte remains within it. Fuel cells can operate virtually continuously as long as the necessary flows are maintained.
Fuel cells are different from electrochemical cell batteries in that they consume reactant from an external source, which must be replenished – a thermodynamically open system. By contrast, batteries store electrical energy chemically and hence represent a thermodynamically closed system.
Many combinations of fuels and oxidants are possible. A hydrogen fuel cell uses hydrogen as its fuel and oxygen (usually from air) as its oxidant. Other fuels include hydrocarbons and alcohols. Other oxidants include chlorine and chlorine dioxide.
The principle of the fuel cell had been demonstrated by Sir William Grove in 1839, and other investigators had experimented with various forms of fuel cell. The first practical fuel cell was developed by Francis Thomas Bacon in 1959.
For more information about Fuel cell, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
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News tagged with fuel cell
Researchers fuel the next generation of hybrid cars
Jul 31, 2008 |
4.8 / 5 (48) |
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Monash University scientists have revolutionised the design of fuel cells used in the latest generation of hybrid cars which could make the vehicles more reliable and cheaper to build.
Researchers analyze material with 'colossal ionic conductivity'
Jul 31, 2008 |
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A new material characterized at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory could open a pathway toward more efficient fuel cells.
Panasonic Engineers Introduce Methanol Fuel Cell Prototype
Oct 22, 2008 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Engineers at Panasonic will showcase their new reduced size methanol fuel cell at the Hydrogen Energy Advanced Technology Exhibition 2008 in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. Japan's most populated ...
Going platinum: New catalyst could boost cleaner fuel use
Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
May 14, 2009 |
4.1 / 5 (23) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Material scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a technique for a bimetallic fuel cell catalyst that is efficient, robust and two to five times more effective than ...
Sugar + weed killer = potential clean energy source
Sep 29, 2009 |
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A spoonful of herbicide helps the sugar break down in a most delightful way.
Wastewater produces electricity and desalinates water
Aug 06, 2009 |
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A process that cleans wastewater and generates electricity can also remove 90 percent of salt from brackish water or seawater, according to an international team of researchers from China and the U.S.
New hydrogen production method could reduce need for fossil fuels
Jan 06, 2009 |
3 / 5 (22) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have created an entirely natural and renewable method for producing hydrogen to generate electricity which could drastically reduce the dependency on fossil fuels in the future.
Fuel cells get a boost
Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
Oct 15, 2009 |
3.9 / 5 (17) |
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Fuel cells, devices that can produce electricity from hydrogen or other fuels without burning them, are considered a promising new way of powering everything from homes and cars to portable devices like cellphones ...
Hydrogen cars closer to reality with new storage system design
Apr 02, 2009 |
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Researchers have developed a critical part of a hydrogen storage system for cars that makes it possible to fill up a vehicle's fuel tank within five minutes with enough hydrogen to drive 300 miles.
Nanotubes take flight: Scientists use nanomaterials to grow flying carpets, 'odako' kites
Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
Jul 29, 2009 |
5 / 5 (12) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- With products that range from carpets to kites, you’d think Rice University chemist Bob Hauge was running a department store. What he's really running is a revolution in the world of carbon ...
World's first as fuel cell aircraft takes off in Germany
Jul 07, 2009 |
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The world's first piloted aircraft capable of taking to the air using only power from fuel cells took off in Germany Tuesday, producing zero carbon dioxide emissions, its makers said.
Renewable hydrogen production becomes reality at winery
Sep 29, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (13) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The first demonstration of a renewable method for hydrogen production from wastewater using a microbial electrolysis system is underway at the Napa Wine Company in Oakville. The refrigerator-sized hydrogen ...
Electricity from straw
Feb 03, 2009 |
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Researchers have developed the first-ever biogas plant to run purely on waste instead of edible raw materials -- transforming waste into valuable material. The plant generates 30 percent more biogas than its ...
New Sulfur- and Coking-Tolerant Material Could Expand Applications for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Oct 01, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A new ceramic material described in this week's issue of the journal Science could help expand the applications for solid oxide fuel cells - devices that generate electricity directly from a ...
Chemists discover recipe to design a better type of fuel cell
Oct 18, 2009 |
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Fuel cells are often touted as one method to help decrease society's addiction to fossil fuels. But there is still a lot of work to be done before fuel cells will be ready for mass market to be used in transportation, home ...
