Alkaline Electrolyte Fuel Cells: A New Look at an Old Technology

Overview

Objectives/Goals The carbon dioxide reaction at the anode of an alkaline electrolyte fuel cell limits the cell#s usefulness. The purpose of these experiments is first to determine if hydrogen from methane-based fuels is the primary source of fuel cell energy. The second objective is to see if the production of carbon dioxide from these methane-based fuels can be isolated in the cell reaction. Methods/Materials A variety of fuels both carbon and non-carbon based were compared using a simple dissolved alkaline electrolyte fuel cell to determine whether hydrogen is the determining factor in a cell#s power output. Then a typical methane fuel reaction was broken into its component parts. Using methanol, methanal and methanoic acid, the reaction rate of these parts was compared to show that the production of carbon dioxide is the last and fastest part of the complete reaction. Results The first experiment suggests that available hydrogen anions are the principal source of a fuel cell#s power. The second experiment showed that after methanol becomes methanal, the change from methanal to methanoic acid and from methanoic acid to carbon dioxide happens very quickly at the end of the reaction. Conclusions/Discussion These experiments suggest that hydrogen anions are the principal source of electrical energy in an alkaline electrolyte fuel cell. The experiments also confirm the timing of the carbon dioxide in the fundamental fuel cell reaction.

Competition history

• CSEF 2002 Chemistry · Entry J0507

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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