ERIC Number: EJ832427
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Mar
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Thin-Layer Fuel Cell for Teaching and Classroom Demonstrations
Shirkhanzadeh, M.
Journal of Chemical Education, v86 n3 p324-329 Mar 2009
A thin-layer fuel cell is described that is simple and easy to set up and is particularly useful for teaching and classroom demonstrations. The cell is both an electrolyzer and a fuel cell and operates using a thin layer of electrolyte with a thickness of approximately 127 micrometers and a volume of approximately 40 microliters. As an electrolyzer, an external power source such as a photovoltaic array drives the cell to generate hydrogen and chlorine gas bubbles at the cathode and anode, respectively. As a fuel cell, the cell utilizes the stored hydrogen and chlorine to generate electricity. The cell design exploits the phenomenon of gas bubble coalescence to suppress the occurrence of bubble-induced turbulence mixing in the system during electrolysis. The cell design minimizes the level of fuel crossover and cell depolarization and eliminates the need for a cathode-anode separator. (Contains 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Science Activities, Fuels, Science Experiments, Science Instruction, Demonstrations (Educational), Laboratory Experiments, Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Scientific Concepts, College Science, Secondary School Science, Undergraduate Study, Chemical Engineering
Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. Subscription Department, P.O. Box 1267, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-1267. Tel: 800-691-9846; Tel: 856-931-5825; Fax: 856-931-4115; e-mail: jchemed@egpp.com; Web site: http://www.jce.divched.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A