单词 | fuel cell |
释义 | fuel cell A cell in which the chemical energy of a fuel is converted directly into electrical energy. The simplest fuel cell is one in which hydrogen is oxidized to form water over porous sintered nickel electrodes. A supply of gaseous hydrogen is fed to a compartment containing the porous cathode and a supply of oxygen is fed to a compartment containing the porous anode; the electrodes are separated by a third compartment containing a hot alkaline electrolyte, such as potassium hydroxide. The electrodes are porous to enable the gases to react with the electrolyte, with the nickel in the electrodes acting as a catalyst. At the cathode the hydrogen reacts with the hydroxide ions in the electrolyte to form water, with the release of two electrons per hydrogen molecule: H2 + 2OH-→ 2H2O + 2e- At the anode, the oxygen reacts with the water, taking up electrons, to form hydroxide ions: ½O2 + H2O + 2e-→ 2OH- The electrons flow from the cathode to the anode through an external circuit as an electric current. The device is a more efficient converter of electric energy than a heat engine, but it is bulky and requires a continuous supply of gaseous fuels. Their use to power electric vehicles is being actively explored |
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