How Does a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Work?
The Concept A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an electrochemical device meant to convert oxygen and a fuel (hydrogen) into electricity. The fuel cell alone, however, produces a very small voltage. This is why cars or other large machines use stacks of many fuel cells to create higher voltages. A solid oxide fuel cell runs on the idea that electrons can be stripped from molecules and directly put into a circuit for electricity. The Components A solid oxide fuel cell is comprised of a hydrogen input, which flows hydrogen atoms across an anode (negatively charge); an electrolyte; a cathode (positively charged); and an air input that flows over the cathode. The output from the hydrogen flow is water, but the output from the air flow is all the unused gases in the air other than oxygen. A diagram showing this structure is shown here. The Creation of Electricity The process by which a SOFC creates electricity is by two electrochemical reactions. First, the anode strips electrons off the hydr
