PEM Fuel Cell - Components
Anode — negative post of fuel cell
Conducts the electrons freed from hydrogen molecules so they can
be used in an external circuit
PEM Fuel Cell - Components
Anode — negative post of fuel cell
Conducts the electrons freed from hydrogen molecules so they can
be used in an external circuit
Disperses the hydrogen gas equally over the surface of the
catalyst through etched channels
Cathode — positive post of fuel cell
Conducts the electrons back from the external circuit to the
catalyst
Electrons are then recombined with hydrogen ions and oxygen
atoms to form water
Disperses oxygen equally over the surface of catalyst through
etched channels
Catalyst — special material that facilitates the reaction of oxygen and
hydrogen
Electrolyte — proton exchange membrane
Specially treated material that only conducts positively charged Resembles ordinary kitchen plastic wrap Membrane blocks electrons, forcing them around the external
circuit
Typically made of platinum powder very thinly coated onto
carbon paper or cloth
Rough and porous so that the maximum surface area of the platinum can be
exposed to the hydrogen or oxygen
Platinum coated side of the catalyst faces the PEM