The Hydrogen Economy:

Demonstrations with a Solar Energy/Electrolyzer/Fuel Cell Toy

 

On May 24th, ACS/CVS hosted a dinner meeting with about 50 attendees at the Radisson Hotel, Enfield, CT, featuring Dr. James M. Fenton, professor of chemical engineering, University of Connecticut.  Dr. Fenton demonstrated experiments using a “toy” that allows students to study the principles of fuel cell operation and familiarize themselves with fuel cell performance as a function of oxidant composition and reactant flow rates. In addition to performance, analyses on the proton exchange membrane (reactant crossover) and the catalyst (electrochemically active surface area) can be performed with a minimum of added effort.  The experimental setup (a solar panel, a water electrolyzer, and a PEMFC) is an entirely self-contained apparatus that clearly demonstrated the concepts of renewable energy.  The electricity generated can run a motor or be fed into an electronic load, permitting the observation of voltage-current characteristics of the fuel cell. 

 

The audience was treated to Dr. Fenton’s radio-controlled fuel cell-powered toy truck in action.  He also briefly discussed his research at Uconn toward improving the performance of an innovative proton-exchange membrane that provides excellent ionic conductivity in an undersaturated environment.  Membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) have also been developed for this environment.