Fuel Cell Fundamentals Direct

This layer allows positively charged protons to migrate through it to the cathode while acting as an insulator for electrons.

At the cathode, the electrons rejoin the protons and combine with oxygen (usually from the air) to produce the cell's only byproducts: water and heat . Major Fuel Cell Types Fuel Cell Fundamentals

The basic operation of a fuel cell relies on a that occurs across three primary components: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. This layer allows positively charged protons to migrate

Because the electrons cannot pass through the membrane, they are forced through an external circuit, which creates the electric current used to power a load. Because the electrons cannot pass through the membrane,

Hydrogen fuel is supplied to the anode, where a catalyst (typically platinum) splits the hydrogen molecules into protons ( H+cap H raised to the positive power ) and electrons ( e−e raised to the negative power