Energy: Reimagine fuel cells

Bio-Fuel Cells – Energy Harvesting Nano Particles

Fuel cells for electrochemical energy conversion

A fuel cell is essentially a compact electrochemical “factory” that takes fuel as input and produces electricity as output (see fig. 1). Like a factory, a fuel cell will continue to churn out product (electricity) as long as raw material (fuel) is supplied. This is the key difference between a fuel cell and a battery. While both rely on electrochemistry to work their magic, a fuel cell is not c...

Fuel Cells, Fuels and Future Energy

The possible use of alcohols as direct fuels for fuel cells conjures up images of instantly recharging cellphones and digital cameras from hip flasks, and of alcohol-based electricity generation plants for remote villages, and perhaps, more efficient use of alcohols as motor fuels. The reality of such images is assessed and some recent developments in fuel cells are outlined. Perspectives on th...

Energy autonomy in robots through Microbial Fuel Cells

The ability of robots to operate with minimum human intervention, independent of the energy supply, is often enough to term an agent autonomous. However, there is a clear distinction between computational ability and energy obtainment. These have already been identified as computational autonomy and energetic autonomy [1]. Battery-operated robots, for example, demonstrate computational autonomy...

ARTICLE Energy From Algae Using Microbial Fuel Cells

Bioelectricity production from a phytoplankton, Chlorella vulgaris, and a macrophyte, Ulva lactuca was examined in single chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFCs were fed with the two algae (as powders), obtaining differences in energy recovery, degradation efficiency, and power densities. C. vulgaris producedmore energy generation per substrate mass (2.5 kWh/kg), butU. lactucawas degraded mo...