Fuel cells have been a popular subject not only to scientists, but now also to the United States government, environmentalists, and soon the average consumer. Fuel cells, by definition, an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process, are possibly the future energy providers of the world. Fuel cells will compete with other energy devices such as gas turbines, gasoline engines, and batteries to be used as an energy source. The purpose of using a fuel cell instead of the above devices is to generate electricity with an alternative, non-polluting electrochemical process. The use of fuel cells is important for a number of reasons. For the United States as a country, it will allow the government more strength and independence by no longer relying on other countries as a source of oil. It will end the depletion of natural resources, such as fossil fuels, by using and re-using only hydrogen and oxygen, elements found in nature. Using fuel cells also reduces the number of pollutants, addressing such global concerns as global warming and the greenhouse effect, among others. Instead of using limited resources which also pollute the environment, there will be a move toward facilitating hydroelectric and solar power, having, in general, greater operating efficiency with lower emissions such as pollutants.
Fuel technology was first discovered in 1839 by Sir William Grove, now dubbed the "Father of the Fuel Cell." This technology developed from his experiments of the electrolysis of water. Grove thought that it was possible to reverse the process, reacting hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity. He then used hydrogen and oxygen as fuels catalyzed on platinum electrodes. The term fuel cell was later introduced by Ludwig Mond and Charles Langer in 1889. The two also attempted to build the first practical device using air and industrial coal and gas.