Fuel Cell
An electrochemical cell that generates electricity continuously from a fuel and oxidant supplied from outside.
Unit
V
In depth
Unlike a battery, a fuel cell is never depleted as long as reactants keep flowing, since the electrodes are catalysts rather than reagents. Because it converts chemical energy directly to electricity, it bypasses the Carnot limit and can reach efficiencies above 60%.
Examples in the real world
Hydrogen fuel cells in buses and in the Apollo spacecraft; methanol fuel cells for portable power.