Physical Transformation AtlasPTA
Phenomenon · phenomenon:fuel-cell-reaction

Fuel-cell electro-oxidation

A fuel such as hydrogen is oxidised at one electrode and oxygen reduced at the other, continuously, with the electrons routed through a load. Chemical potential becomes electricity without combustion.

Electrochemistryfirst reported 1839

Atlas record: 7 claims reference this phenomenon — 7 established.

Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite

conditions: selective membrane required
7claims1enumerated routes1routes with complete-composition evidence0candidate routes not searched4cited sources

Relations

drives · 1
Chemical potential difference—drives→Fuel-cell electro-oxidationestablished
  • continuous supply of fuel and oxidant to catalysed electrodes separated by a proton- or oxide-conducting electrolyte
produces · 1
Fuel-cell electro-oxidation—produces→Ionic currentestablished
member of · 1
Fuel-cell electro-oxidation—member of→Electrochemicalestablished
implemented by · 1
Fuel-cell electro-oxidation—implemented by→Fuel cellestablished
bounded by · 2
Fuel-cell electro-oxidation—bounded by→Nernst / Gibbs free-energy boundestablished
  • 1.23 V reversible potential for H₂/O₂ at 25 °C
Fuel-cell electro-oxidation—bounded by→Reversible electrochemical efficiency (ΔG/ΔH)established
  • efficiency on the reaction enthalpy (higher-heating-value basis for hydrogen with liquid water as product)
observed in · 1
Fuel-cell electro-oxidation—observed in→Platinumestablished

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.05 × C.21 · Chemical potential difference × Electrochemical · Established
family: Electrochemical (C.21)

Enumerated routes through this · 1

Cited sources · 4

  1. [1]
    A. J. Bard, L. R. Faulkner. Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications (2nd ed.) (2001)
    Wiley · book, no DOI · record
  2. [2]
    W. R. Grove. On voltaic series and the combination of gases by platinum (1839)
    Philosophical Magazine 14, 127–130 · doi:10.1080/14786443908649684 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
  3. [3]
    N. A. A. Qasem, G. A. Q. Abdulrahman. A recent comprehensive review of fuel cells: history, types, and applications (2024)
    International Journal of Energy Research 2024, 7271748 · doi:10.1155/2024/7271748 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
  4. [4]
    EG&G Technical Services, Inc.. Fuel Cell Handbook (Seventh Edition) (2004)
    U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, under contract DE-AM26-99FT40575, November 2004 · www.netl.doe.gov/sites/default/files/netl-file/FCHandbook7.pdf · record

Cite this entity

Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). entity phenomenon:fuel-cell-reaction: Fuel-cell electro-oxidation. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/phenomenon/fuel-cell-reaction

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