9: Batteries and Fuel Cells
- Page ID
- 18998
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)This chapter discusses two related energy conversion devices: batteries and fuel cells. A battery is a device which converts chemical energy to electricity, and one or both of the electrodes of the battery are consumed or deposited in the process. A fuel cell is a device which converts chemical energy to electricity through the oxidation of a fuel. The fuel, but not the electrodes, is consumed in the operation of a fuel cell. Oxidation is the process of losing an electron while reduction is the process of gaining an electron. Both batteries and fuel cells contain three main components: an anode, cathode, and electrolyte. The electrode which electrons flow toward is called the cathode. The electrode which electrons flow away from is called the anode anode. The electrolyte is a material though which ions can flow more easily than electrons.
- 9.1: Prelude
- This page highlights the constraints of current technology due to battery limitations, exemplified by the weight of batteries in products like the iPhone X and Tesla Model S. It points out manufacturing failures leading to significant recalls, emphasizing risks linked to lithium-ion batteries.
- 9.2: Measures of the Ability of Charges to Flow
- This page covers the flow of charges in electrical engineering and chemistry, emphasizing the distinct focuses of each field, particularly regarding solids and liquids, respectively. Key concepts include electronegativity, which relates to bond strength and conductivity, and chemical hardness. The relevance of pH and redox potential in chemical reactions and energy conversion is highlighted, alongside the relationship between hydrogen ions and pH in solutions.
- 9.3: Charge Flow in Batteries and Fuel Cells
- This page describes the operation of batteries and fuel cells. Batteries have an anode, cathode, and electrolyte, with charge flow involving electrons and ions, and safety components to prevent malfunctions. During discharging, energy transforms from chemical to electrical, and vice versa during charging.
- 9.4: Measures of Batteries and Fuel Cells
- This page covers key metrics for energy and charge storage in batteries and fuel cells, including theoretical and practical measures of voltage, specific energy, and efficiency. It explains the differences between specific capacity and density and emphasizes the significance of practical values for optimizing performance and safety. Theoretical values are derived from chemical reactions, while practical values are influenced by factors like temperature and internal resistance.
- 9.5: Battery Types
- This page covers the ideal qualities and trade-offs of batteries, classifying them into primary and secondary types while examining four common varieties: lead acid, alkaline, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and lithium. It highlights the pros and cons of each type, particularly focusing on NiMH's environmental benefits and flat discharge curve versus lithium's high energy density and usage in consumer electronics. The page notes that proper recharging practices are essential for lithium batteries.
- 9.6: Fuel Cells
- This page discusses fuel cells, devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy using various fuels, including hydrogen and coal. Key components include anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes, essential for enhancing reactions and stability. Fuel cells can achieve efficiencies up to 65%, making them suitable for large systems. Challenges like costs and fuel delivery hinder adoption.
- 9.7: Problems
- This page covers pH calculations and redox reactions in batteries and fuel cells. It explains acidity determination, H⁺ concentration calculation, and electrode reactions in batteries, including capacities and energies. The page also compares battery types and fuel cells, details key components and materials in fuel cells, and clarifies differences in electrochemical concepts.