The Story of Discovery: Fuel Cells

{mosimage}Currently, the use of renewable energy is increasing worldwide. And the fuel cell is one such means of renewable energy. But how was the fuel cell discovered?

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity through a chemical process. In 1838, German scientist Friedrich Schönbein first discovered the principle of the fuel cell. In February 1839, amateur scientist and barrister Sir William Robert Grove was able to implement the idea of generating electricity using a fuel cell. However, the first commercial use of fuel cells began in 1958. The chemical components of a fuel cell can be used repeatedly, as it is a form of renewable energy. The primary chemical elements of a fuel cell are hydrogen and oxygen from the air. Additionally, other chemicals such as hydrocarbons, like alcohol, are also used. Nowadays, different types of fuel cells are available, and these depend on their chemical components. Various types of fuel cells are named according to the differences in their chemical substances. Among the notable types are: 1) Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, 2) Direct Methanol Fuel Cell or Methanol Fuel Cell, 3) Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, 4) Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell, 5) Alkaline Fuel Cell, etc. Today, fuel cells are used not only in automobiles but also in portable electronic devices like laptops, cameras, and mobile phones. Researchers have already begun the work of generating electricity using fuel cells.

– Sad Abdul Wali, excerpted from the forthcoming book ‘The Story of Discovery’.