This document discusses the use of nanotechnology in fuel cells. It provides a brief history of fuel cells and describes their basic components and mechanisms. It notes that nanotechnology can help address issues like using expensive catalyst materials and fuel storage. Specifically, carbon nanotubes can be used to store hydrogen fuel more easily and improve catalyst performance. Recent research is exploring catalysts that reduce or eliminate platinum usage. Fuel cells have applications in transportation, portable devices, and stationary power generation.

1. Presented by :
Ajeeta Srivastava(1473720005)
Nanotechnology in Fuel Cell
A Seminar on
Submitted to :
Mr. Mayank Kumar Gautam
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
RAJKIYA ENGINEERING COLLEGE
AMBEDKAR NAGAR-224122(U.P.)

2. Contents
 Introduction
 History of fuel cell
 Fuel Cell
 Parts of Fuel Cell
 Mechanism of fuel cell
 Types of fuel cell
 Need for nanotechnology
 Carbon Nano Tube
 Recent research in field of nano fuel cell
 Application
 Merits and Demerits
 Conclusion
 References

3. INTRODUCTION
 The reality that the fossil fuels are running out and the fact
that pollution from using fossil fuels has become an
important issue of environmental concern .
 Fuel cells extract energy from fuel (40–70% efficiency)
more effectively than traditional internal combustion
engines (∼30% efficiency)
 Fuel cell provides a clean source of power in comparison to
other sources like hydro, thermal, nuclear etc.

4. History of fuel cell
 1839- First fuel cell designed by Sir William Robert Grove.
 1889-The term fuel cell was coined by Ludwig Mond and
Charles Langer.
 1913- Dr. Francis Thomas Bacon created the first alkaline
fuel cell which he termed the “Bacon Cell”.
 1960’s- NASA uses fuel cells to power their manned space
missions.

5. FUEL CELL
 A fuel cell is a device which converts a fuel
directly into electricity in an electrochemical
reaction.
Fig 1: graphic showing working of fuel cell

6. Parts of fuel cells
There are 4 main parts
• Anode
• Cathode
• Catalyst
• Electrolyte

7. Anode
 Negative post of the fuel cell.
 Conducts the electrons that are freed from the hydrogen
molecules so that they can be used in an external circuit.
 Etched channels disperse hydrogen gas over the surface of
catalyst.

8. Cathode
 Positive post of the fuel cell
 Etched channels distribute oxygen to the surface of the
catalyst.
 Conducts electrons back from the external circuit to the
catalyst
 Recombine with the hydrogen ions and oxygen to form
water.

9. Electrolyte
• Proton exchange membrane.
• Specially treated material, only conducts positively
charged ions.
• Membrane blocks electrons.

10. Catalyst
 Special material that facilitates reaction of oxygen and
hydrogen
 Usually platinum powder very thinly coated onto carbon
paper or cloth.
 Rough & porous maximizes surface area exposed to
hydrogen or oxygen
 The platinum-coated side of the catalyst faces the PEM.

11. MECHANSIM OF FUEL CELL
• Hydrogen is fed to the anode where a catalyst separate
hydrogen’s negatively charged electrons.
2H2→ 4H+ + 4e-
• At the cathode , air is fed.
so oxygen is combined with electrons.
O2 + 4H+ + 4e- → 2H2O
• At this time the electric current
flows in opposite direction.
• Net reaction:
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

12. Types of fuel cell
 Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
 Direct methanol fuel cells
 Alkaline fuel cells
 Phosphoric acid fuel cells
 Molten carbonate fuel cells
 Solid oxide fuel cells

13. Need of nanotechnology
 Expensive materials such as platinum are needed for the
electrode catalysts.
 Fuels other than hydrogen can cause fouling of the
electrodes, and hydrogen is costly to produce and difficult
to store.
 The most efficient types of fuel cell operate at very high
temperatures, which reduce their lifespan due to corrosion
of the fuel cell components.

14. Carbon Nano Tubes (CNT)
►Carbon nano tube is used to enter the hydrogen
into the fuel cell.
►It is an allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical
nanostructure.
►The diameter of a nano
tube is in the order of a
few nano meters.
►It makes the hydrogen
storage easier.

15. Effect of CNTs on Fuel Cell
 Improving the Performance of the Catalyst.
 Improving the Stability and Corrosion Resistance of
the Catalyst
 Reducing the Cost of the Fuel Cell
 Increasing Transmission Capacity

16. Recent researches in the field of nano
fuel cell
• Researches at brown university are developing a catalyst that
uses no platinum. The catalyst is made from a sheet of graphene
coated with cobalt nanoparticles.
• Researches at Cornell university have developed a catalyst using
platinum cobalt nanoparticles that produce 12 times more
catalytic activity than pure platinum.
• Researchers at the university of Copenhagen have demonstrated
the ability to significantly reduce the amount of platinum needed
as a catalyst in fuel cell by controlling the packing density.

17. Application
There are many application of Nano Fuel Cell. Mainly it is classified in
three areas:
►Transport
►Portable
►Stationary
 Application in Transport
1)The fuel cell bus sector is showing year-on-year growth,
with more prototypes being unveiled.
2) Light duty vehicles(LDVs), such as cars and vans.
3) Ferries and smaller boats.

18. Cont.
 Application in portable
1) military applications (portable soldier power, skid
mounted fuel cell generators etc)
2) Auxiliary Power Units (APU) (e.g. for the leisure and
trucking industries)
3) portable products (torches, vine trimmers etc).

19. Merits of Fuel Cell
► It is eco-friendly , noiseless and has no rotating part.
► Wide choice of fuel for fuel cell.
► Higher efficiency up to 60% as compared to conventional
which has 30%.
► Require less space.
► In addition to electric power, fuel cell plant also supply hot
water , space heat and stream.
► No transmission and distribution losses.

20. Demerits of Fuel Cell
 CO2 discharged with methanol reform
 Little more efficient than alternatives
 Technology currently expensive
• Many design issues still in progress
 Hydrogen often created using “dirty” energy (e.g., coal)
 Pure hydrogen is difficult to handle
• Refilling stations, storage tanks

21. Conclusion
 Fuel cells have the nature of high energy conversion
efficiency and low pollutant emission and are
considered to be one of the promising methods to solve
future energy crisis and environmental issues.
 Carbon nanotube used as the support of catalysis has
an important significance in the fuel cell applications.

22. References
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell
 http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/about-fuel-cells
 www.understandingnano.com/fuel-cells.html