Fuel cells offer the promise of a clean energy source for stationary power generation. They produce energy from hydrogen, natural gas, alcohol, or other readily available hydrocarbon fuels (see Figure 1). Fuel cells date back to the nineteenth century when Grove, in 1839, first published his work on the generation of electricity by partially immersing two platinum electrodes and separately supplying oxygen and hydrogen to them. There is considerable current interest in fuel cells as an environmentally clean alternative to fossil-fuel-burning power sources.

AZoM - Metals, Ceramics, Polymer and Composites : Fuel Cells – Schematic of a typical polymeric electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell.

Figure 1. Schematic of a typical polymeric electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell.
Commercialization of Fuel Cell Powered Vehicles

Purely fuel cell powered vehicles are currently being tested as prototypes with plans for eventual commercialization by as early as 2010. Some of these vehicles are already in operation in municipal organizations around the world.
Types of Fuel Cells and Their Operation

Fuel cells are distinguished by types of electrolytes they utilize (see Table 1), but they all generally follow the same redox chemistry. The principle behind fuels cells is similar to that of batteries but, since they are fuel-driven, they do not need to be recharged nor do they run down. Most fuel cells operate by oxidizing hydrogen at the anode and reducing the resulting H+ to water with atmospheric oxygen at the cathode, producing heat and electricity