Preparation of a Nafion Fuel Cell

Full procedure can be found at: https://education.mrsec.wisc.edu/prep...

Fuel cells are devices that convert a fuel and an oxidant directly into electricity. In this manner, they are similar to batteries. However, a battery has a limited amount of chemical reactants stored inside its case and once these reactants are consumed the battery is either discarded or must be recharged to replentish the reactants. A fuel cell, on the other hand, will continue to generate electricity as long as it is supplied with fuel and oxidant.

In a fuel cell a fuel, such as hydrogen or methanol, is electrochemically oxidized to produce electrons. These electrons are forced through a load by an electronically insulating electrolyte and react at the cathode to electrochemically reduce the oxidant. The electrolyte conducts ions between the anode and cathode to balance the charge flowing through the load. In order to increase the rate of reaction at the anode and cathode, electrocatalysts, such as platinum, are used to promote the oxidation and reduction reactions. In this activity a polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM) is used as the electrolyte. When this PEM is soaked with water it conducts protons generated at the anode by the oxidation of the fuel to the cathode where they combine with oxygen to form water.

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