Fuel Cells

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy directly into electrical energy. A fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen in a chemical reaction, producing water, electricity and heat. Fuel cell types are generally classified according to the nature of the electrolyte they use. Fuel cells can be classified into six different categories based on the type of electrolyte used. These are as follows: proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), molten carbonate fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), alkaline fuel cell, and direct methanol fuel cell. A PEM fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that is fed hydrogen, which is oxidized at the anode, and oxygen that is reduced at the cathode. The SOFC is characterized by having a solid ceramic electrolyte, which is a metallic oxide. Fuel cells which use phosphoric acid solution as the electrolyte are called PAFCs.