Fuel cells commonly use the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce a voltage, with water being the only waste product. There are acid and alkaline fuel cells – Edexcel require you know the details of both, everyone else focuses solely on the alkaline hydrogen fuel cell.
Alkaline hydrogen fuel cell
- fuel cells require a constant fuel and oxygen supply to operate continuously
- the nature of the catalyst in the anode and cathode depends on the design of the fuel cell
- a newer type of this fuel cell uses a solid polymer electrolyte
- an advantage over batteries is that they donโt need recharging and the waste product is water
Acid hydrogen fuel cell
- the main disadvantage of the acid hydrogen fuel cell is that the acidic electrolyte increases the rate of corrosion of components of the cell that are in contact with it