The International Year of Chemistry 2011 (IYC 2011) is a global celebration of the study of chemistry, its achievements, and its critical role in meeting the challenges of modern times. Those challenges include global climate change, sustainable living, energy, transportation, and medicine. The IYC 2011 theme “Chemistry—our life, our future” has a different focus each quarter of the year: “Alternative Energy” is the focus for the second quarter. (Read our previous article on the IYC 2011 here.) In the spirit of the IYC 2011, this article is about an alternative energy technology—fuel cells.

Fuel cells are electrochemical cells that combine hydrogen and oxygen gas to generate water and energy. Most electrochemical cells use a chemical solution as an electrolyte; however. many fuel cells contain a proton exchange membrane (PEM) as an electrolyte. This membrane allows charged ions to diffuse across its surface without using large volumes of solution; as a result, fuel cells are compact.

Related Resources

Solar Hydrogen Science Kit Inquiries in Science®: Examining Energy Resources Kit

Solar-powered fuel cell
Interestingly, the same electrolyte membrane used in the reaction to generate water and energy can also run in reverse, electrolyzing water to generate hydrogen and oxygen gas. Solar energy can power this reaction, and when the 2 processes are coupled, a solar-powered fuel cell can generate power at distances remote from the nearest power grid. For an example of such a system, read about the Stuart Island Energy Initiative at www.siei.org.

Fuel cells find their widest commercial use in stationary combined-heat-and-power (CHP) fuel cells. These devices, scaled to service hospitals and office buildings, convert standard natural gas and liquid propane to power and heat—all within a single unit. The most successful commercialization of this technology is by Bloom Energy. They have installed numerous CHP units for well-known companies, including eBay®, Google®, and Wal-Mart®. Read more about their technology at www.bloomenergy.com.

Fuel cells for automobiles
Despite the commercial success of stationary fuel cells, fuel cells suitable for powering vehicles haven’t gained wide use. A major reason why is that research and development (R & D) of fuel-cell cars almost completely stopped in favor of R & D on electric and hybrid cars, e.g., General Motors' Volt™ and Toyota’s Prius™. Only Honda™ maintains work on fuel-cell technology with its Honda FXC Clarity™. For the latest news on this vehicle, see http://world.honda.com/FuelCell.

Learn more
Don’t forget, Chemists Celebrate Earth Day (CCED) is April 22. The focus will be alternative energy. Want to learn more about alternative energy? Try these great Carolina products.

• Inquiries in Science®: Examining Energy Resources Kit
• Solar Hydrogen Science Kit from Dr. Fuel Cell™
• Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Model Car from Dr. Fuel Cell™