Finally there is a car that doesn't harm the air that we breathe, animals, or the water that we consume. I am talking about fuel cell cars, the wave of the future. Car manufactures like General Motors, ford, Nissan, and Mercedes-Benz jumped on the bandwagon and came up with cell fueled concept cars that they hope will be released in the future. Well, the future is now!.
What exactly is a fuel cell? Well it is an electrochemical energy conversion device that coverts oxygen and hydrogen into heat and electricity. It is like a battery that can recharge while you"re drawing power from it. Instead of using electricity to recharge the fuel cell you use oxygen and hydrogen. Fuel cells use a Direct Current voltage that can be used to power lights, motors, and any other electrical appliances. There are a variety of fuel cells. They are arranged by the type of "Electrolyte" (A substance that dissociates into ions in solution or when fused, thereby becoming electronically conducting.) that they use.
How does a fuel cell work? A cell is made up of four major parts; those four parts are the anode, the cathode, the electrolyte, and the catalyst. The anode, the negative column of the cell fuel, has many jobs. It conducts electrons that are released from the hydrogen molecules so they can be used in the external circuit. It has channels etched into it that releases hydrogen gas over the outside of the catalyst. The positive column of the fuel cell is the cathode. The cathode also has channels etched into it, but instead of releasing hydrogen to the catalyst, it releases oxygen to it. The cathode also leads the electrons back from the external circuit to the catalyst, where they infuse with the hydrogen ions and oxygen to create H2O. The electrolyte, a proton exchange membrane, resembles the plastic wrap that you can find in the kitchen only its job is much more important. It conducts the positive ions and the membrane prevents electrons.