Energy report

a) The chemical nature of the targeted energy cell (how does it work?).

1. The fuel, hydrogen gas, is channeled to the anode as oxygen or air is channeled to the cathode of the cell.

2. At the anode, hydrogen gas is split into hydrogen ions and negatively charged electrons.

H2→2H++2e-

3. Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), or Proton-exchange membrane is an electrolyte which allows only positively charged hydrogen ions to pass through to the cathode. The negatively charged electrons can only travel along the external circuit to the cathode, and are used for electrical work.

4. The positively charged hydrogen ions combined with the oxygen to form water and flow out the cell.

2H2(g)+O2(g)→2H2O(l)

b) A description of the fabrication procedure

1. Place a black plug into a 2x4cm length of rubber tube and insert the unplugged side into the top pin of the hydrogen side of the electrolyzer

2. Fill a syringe with distilled water and dispense it into another 2x4cm length of rubber tube inserted into the top pin on the oxygen side of the electrolyzer

3. Place a red plug into the rubber tube from step 2 and let the electrolyzer sit for 3 minutes

4. Fill the cylinders up to the zero line with distilled water

5. Place the inner containers into the cylinders

6. Connect rubber tubes to the top of each inner container

7. Connect the other end of one of the tubes from the step 5 to the bottom pin on the hydrogen side of the electrolyzer

8. Connect the other end of the other tube from step 5 to the bottom pin on the oxygen side of the electrolyzer

9. Attach the energy source to the top leads on the electrolyzer and turn the power on for 2 minutes. This produces the hydrogen and oxygen gases.

10. Place a clothespin on each tube connected to the inner containers to trap the gases in the inner containers

11. Heat or cool the cylinders to the desired temperature using a hot plate or heat bath, respectively, and record the temperature

12. Attach the tubes to the PEM fuel cell

13. Attach leads from the voltage meter to the PEM fuel cell to measure and record the voltage

14. Repeat the entire procedure as necessary for the number of trials needed, at least 3 for each temperature

c) A description of the tests to be performed to evaluate the energy cell(s).

How does the temperature of the hydrogen and oxygen gases affect the efficiency of the PEM fuel cell? Hypothesis: The temperature of the hydrogen and oxygen gases will have a minor but ultimately noticeable effect on the efficiency of the PEM fuel cell, that there will be a positive correlation between the temperature of the gases and the voltage readings from the voltage meter while the PEM fuel cell is running. The temperatures being tested are: 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, 80, 90, and 95 degrees Celsius.

d) A list of all materials and equipment required.

· Distilled Water

· Ice Bath

· Hot Plate

· Thermometer