How to Build a Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Generating pollution-free electricity, the hydrogen fuel cell is a promising renewable energy technology. Watch it in action with this simple home-science project.
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Slap on goggles and a lab coat because you're about to make some scientific discoveries!
You Will Need
- A 12-inch length of pure platinum wire or platinum-coated nickel wire
- Wire cutters
- A nail
- A 9-volt battery clip
- Clear tape
- A popsicle stick
- A glass of water
- A volt meter
- A 9-volt battery
Steps
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Step 1
Make electrodes
Cut the wire into two 6-inch pieces. Wind each piece tightly around a nail to form coils that will serve as electrodes. Leave a 1-inch piece uncoiled at the end and remove your coils from the nail.
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Step 2
Prepare the battery
Cut the wire on the leads of the battery clip in half and cut away the insulation from the ends of the wires. Twist the stripped ends together with the uncoiled ends of your coiled electrodes.
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Step 3
Fasten electrodes
Tape both electrodes next to one another in the middle of the popsicle stick. Put the tape on the twisted leads where they meet the coil.
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Step 4
Attach to glass
Balance the Popsicle stick on the rim of the glass of water and tape the ends of the stick to the rim of the glass. Make sure only the coiled electrodes hang into the water, not the twisted leads.
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Step 5
Connect volt meter
Connect the red wire to the positive terminal of the volt meter and the black wire to the negative terminal. The meter should read zero.
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A small amount of voltage, such as .01, may read on the meter.
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Step 6
Operate fuel cell
Touch the 9-volt battery to the battery clip for a second or two. This causes the water at the electrodes to split into hydrogen and oxygen -- known as electrolysis -- and bubbles will form.
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Step 7
Remove battery
Remove the battery. The platinum allows the hydrogen and oxygen to recombine to make water and produce electricity, which can be seen on the volt meter. You can even use it to power small electrical devices.
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The only byproduct or exhaust from hydrogen fuel cells is water and water vapor.
