Methanol oxygen fuel cell with H2S04 as electrolyte:

Emf

CO2
CH,OH-

Excess O2
and H:O
Anode Cathode
Electrolyte Membrane
It consists of two porous carbon electrodes. Anode is coated with platinum catalyst and
cathode is with silver catalyst. The electrolyte is an aqueous solution of H2SO4. Methanol
is continuously supplied at the anode and oxygen is supplied at the cathode. Methanol
adsorbed on anode electrode surface and undergoes oxidation giving CO and H ions
Electrons release at anode, move externally to cathode. H ions diffuse through the
electrolyte and reacts with oxygen at cathode to produce water. A membrane is placed
adjacent cathode to prevent the diffusion of methanol to cathode
to or else methanol diffuses to

cathode and undergoes oxidation itself.

Reactions:

Anode: CH3OH + H20 CO% + 6H + 6c

Cathode: 3/202+ 6H" + 6e > 3H:0

Overall: CHOH3/202 CO + H:0

Applications: Methanol-O2 fuel cell is used in military applications and in large scale power
production.

Note: 1. An advantage ofacid electrolyte is that CO2 can be easily removed.

2. Eell is 1.21 v.

3. KOH cannot be used as it reacts with CO2 to form KCO.

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Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells convert the chemical energy stored in hydrogen fuel directly and
efficiently to electrical energy. They are developed mainly for transport applications, as well as
for stationary fuel-cell applications.

They employ a polymer membrane with acid side groups to conduct protons from the anode to cathode.
Water management in the fuel cell is critical for PEM fuel cell operation. Sufficient water must be
absorbed into the membrane to ionize the acid groups

Construction:

Fuel: Pure hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, ete.

Oxidant: Pure air or 02
Electrodes: Both the electrodes are carbon based, coated with platinum catalyst
Electrolyte: Proton exchange membrane is used like Perfluorinated sulfonic acid (Nafion)

Load

Water
Excess Fuel outlet

H20
H

o
H2
Anode Cathode
PEM

Cell representation:- H2. H /anode/ PEM / cathode/O

Cell reactions:

Anode: Ha2 H +2e

Cathode: O2 +2H +2e » H0
Overall: H2+02^ H20

Working:
At anode, platinum catalyst causes hydrogen molecule to split into positively charged hydrogen ions

10
 (protons) and electrons. Electrons travel through the external circuit and go to cathode
electrical output of cell. Protons diffuse through the PEM under generating the
an electrochemical gradient to the
cathode. Oxygen molecules adsorb at the cathode, are reduced and react with protons and electrons to
produce water. The product water is absorbed into the PEM or flows out.

Advantages: They have high energy efficiency and environmentally friendly

Applications: They can be used as power sources in vehicles, portable and stationary
applications.

SOLAR ENERGY

Photovoltaic cell: Photovoltaic cell or Solar cell is a semiconductor device which converts solar
energy into electrical energy.

Solar cells harness the energy from the sun and transform this into electricity which can be used
in residential and commercial sectors.

Construetion and working of photovoltaic cell

Photovoltaic cell is made of semiconductors which have the capacity to absorb light. When n-
type and p-type semiconductor are bought together, a semiconductor diode is formed. The
semiconductor diode separates and collects the charge carriers and conducts electrical energy
preferentially in a specific direction.

Sunlight
Metal grid
Anti-reflective layer

n-type layer

Eleçtron-bole
par
LApplication
p-type layer

Metal layer
Fig. Photovoltaic cell

A typical silicon photovoltaic cell is composed of a thin poly crystaline silicon wafer. It consists
of an ultra-thin layer of phosphorus doped (n-type) silicon on top of boron doped (p-type)
to form a p-n junction diode. It has two electrical contacts, one of which is in the form of
Silicon
metallic grid and the other is a layer of noble metal like silver on the back of the solar cell. Light
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 radiations areallowed to fall perpendicular on the semiconductor between the
grid lines. An
antireflective layer between the grid lines increases the amount of light transmitted to the
semiconductor.

When sun light falls on the solar panel, the plate absorbs it and reaches the
p-n junction. The
photons present in sun radiation possess sufficient energy (E= hy) to overcome the barrier
potential, generates electron hole pairs and causes the electrons drifted to and collected at the
n-type end and holes at the p-type end. When these two ends are electrically connected through a
conductor, electricity generates.
Advantages of PV cell:

1. Electricity can be provided to individual families located in remote areas like mountains.
2. No emissions, no combustion or radioactive residues for disposal.
3. Does not contribute to global warming or pollution.
4. Low operating cost and high reliability.
5. No moving parts and so no wear and tear.
6. No recharging is required.
7. They do not corrode.
Disadvantages of PV cell:
1. Sunlight is relatively low density energy.
2. High installation cost.
3. Energy can be produced only during
daytime.