Hydrogen Fuel Cells - From Chemistry to Engineering

Explore redox reactions through two examples: iron oxide with aluminium to show oxidation state changes and electron transfer, and copper sulfate with zinc to deposit copper and form zinc ions.

Understand how a zinc–copper galvanic cell generates voltage and how the Nernst equation links cell potential to standard potentials and ion concentrations.

Galvanic cells convert chemical energy from zinc-copper redox into electrical energy, while electrolysis uses direct current to reverse this process and store energy as chemical energy.

Explore the driving forces behind fuel cell development, including emissions reduction, energy security, and using hydrogen to store and regain energy, with historical context and applications.

Uncover the components of a fuel cell, including anode and cathode gas compartments, electrolyte, and external circuit. Explore applications from portable devices to mobile and stationary power and their challenges.

Explore an overview of fuel cell types, their electrolytes, and fuels—from alkaline and PEM to DMFC, PAFC, MCFC, and SOFC—highlighting hydrogen, methanol, and oxygen/air as oxidants.

Explore the electrochemistry of fuel cells, linking hydrogen–oxygen reactions to water and a theoretical 1.23 volt cell potential, and note how engineering can raise voltage through design.

Examine the Nernst equation and how concentrations and pressures affect cell voltage. Increase hydrogen on the anode or oxygen on the cathode, and remove water to maintain voltage.

Explore how a single fuel cell step incurs diverse losses across activation, ohmic, and mass transport regions, shaping thermodynamic efficiency and real cell voltage under load.

Explore how reactant depletion, product buildup, and fuel crossover affect efficiency in fuel cells, and analyze the fuel utilization factor (about 0.95) and pressures shaping voltage.

Investigate mass transport losses in hydrogen fuel cells caused by limited transport through electrodes and how diffusion coefficient, reactant pressure, and current density shape hydrogen concentration gradients.

Analyze how electrolyte imperfections cause electronic short circuits and leakage currents, balance thin electrolytes against ohmic losses, and understand current–voltage characteristics and practical fuel cell efficiencies.

Explore the phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), with phosphoric acid electrolyte in a PTFE or silicon carbide matrix, high-temperature operation, platinum catalysts, and stationary application advantages and drawbacks.

Examine the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), where hydrogen oxidizes with oxide ions through a yttrium-stabilized zirconia electrolyte, enabling internal reforming of fuels and high-temperature operation.

Explore proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, with hydrogen anodes and oxygen cathodes, using a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte; cover Nafion, platinum catalysts, low-temperature operation, water management, and mobile applications.

Explore the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), where methanol oxidation at the anode and oxygen reduction at the cathode form water and CO2, enabling liquid methanol storage for portable power.

Focus on cathode design in solid oxide fuel cells, emphasizing electronic and mixed conductivity for efficient oxygen reduction. Highlight degradation mechanisms and the role of triple phase boundaries.

Examine anode design trends for solid oxide fuel cells, highlighting electronic and mixed conductivity, electrolyte compatibility, stability in reducing moist hydrogen, and nickel-ytrium stabilised zirconia composites.

Examine pem fuel cell material engineering, focusing on nafion proton conduction with water management and activation losses, and strategies to prevent CO poisoning of platinum catalysts.

Identify how the electrolyte acts as a high-proton-conducting, gas-tight barrier that prevents electronic conduction and supports robust triple-phase boundary transport to maximize fuel efficiency.

Explore how electrolyte water content drives stepwise swelling of sulfonate clusters into water-filled channels for proton transport, with uniform humidification preserving conductivity and preventing flooding.

Analyze the efficiency and viability of gasoline, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, tracing well-to-tank and tank-to-wheel losses from fuel production to the electric motor.

Explore hydrogen fuel cells across portable, mobile, and stationary applications, compare well-to-wheel efficiency, emphasize green hydrogen from renewables, and discuss fast refueling, quiet operation, and market growth.

Explore real-world hydrogen fuel cell applications from delivery trucks and buses to ships, trains, and backup power. Assess ongoing development and battery trade-offs.

Conclude the course and reflect on what you learned about fuel cells. Share feedback, comments, or recommendations, and stay updated on new courses via this email address.