Comparing the effectiveness of single-compartment and dual-compartment hydrogen peroxide fuel cells

As energy demands increase, it is important to continue the effort to move away from fossil fuels and natural gas. Research into alternative energy sources is vital for that effort. Fuel cells are an alternative energy source that is favoured due to their clean chemical reaction. Originally used in space vehicles, one of the most common fuel cells is the hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen is passed through an anode where it splits into electrons and protons. The protons move through the cell, and the electrons move through a circuit, generating electricity. The electrons and protons combine with oxygen at the cathode to form water. A large drawback of hydrogen is its difficulty in storing. Hydrogen peroxide has been researched as an alternative, as it can act as a reducing and oxidizing agent. As it can do both, research has been conducted on the effectiveness of a single-compartment fuel cell. However, by optimizing the electrolyte for each electrode, the efficiency of the cell can be increased in a dual-compartment setup. This paper aims to compare the effectiveness of the single-compartment and dual-compartment setups of a hydrogen peroxide fuel cell. For the experiment, the same electrode combinations are used, but in a single and dual-compartment configuration. Then, the performance of the cells is compared. For the same material combinations, it is observed that the dual-compartment fuel cells perform better, with a more stable output than the single-compartment setup. Though the electrolyte can be tailored to the electrode, the introduction of the membrane increases the resistance of the system, which reduces its effectiveness. The dual-compartment configuration should next be scaled to stack to test its effectiveness further.