Hydrogen as an Alternative
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.2.7
Hydrogen Fuel Cells vs Batteries
Hydrogen fuel cells can be used as alternatives to rechargeable batteries (and cells). They may be better than rechargeable batteries and cells because:
Toxicity
- Batteries are made from toxic metal compounds and their disposal can cause pollution.
- Hydrogen fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen and the only waste product is water.
Lifetime
- Batteries must be replaced after a certain number of recharges.
- Hydrogen fuel cells can be reused indefinitely by adding more hydrogen and oxygen.
Capacity
- Hydrogen fuel cells produce more energy per gram of hydrogen relative to petrol.
- Batteries have a smaller capacity than hydrogen fuel cells, and so have to be charged more regularly.
What are the risks of hydrogen fuel cells?
- But, hydrogen has to be stored at a high pressure and hydrogen gas is explosive.
Test yourself on Hydrogen as an Alternative
Why are hydrogen fuel cells often chosen as an alternative to rechargeable batteries?
Why can hydrogen fuel cells keep producing electricity for much longer than rechargeable batteries without being replaced?
Why does storing hydrogen at high pressure make hydrogen fuel cells riskier to handle than batteries?
Why might hydrogen be considered a more efficient fuel than petrol for generating energy?