Active Area
The area of a fuel cell electrode which is electrochemically active and able to produce electricity from the supplied fuel
Anode
The fuel electrode in a fuel cell at which oxidation occurs.
APU – Auxiliary Power Unit
An auxiliary power unit or APU (for example a fuel cell) provides electricity and is supplemental to the main power source of a vehicle (such as an internal combustion engine).
Bipolar Plate
A fuel cell stack component which allows electricity to be conducted between adjacent fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies in a stack. They are often designed to channel the flow of gases and heat to and from the cell.
Catalyst
A catalyst increases the rate of a reaction without itself being consumed. In a fuel cell catalysts are used for the electrodes (to break down hydrogen into electrons and protons).
Catalyst loading
The catalyst loading refers to the mass of catalyst per unit area of a fuel cell electrode.
Cathode
The oxygen/air electrode in a fuel cell where reduction occurs.
CCM
CCM stands for Catalyst coated membrane.
Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)
A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) functions in a similar way to a PEMFC and uses the same electrolyte, but reforms methanol directly on its electrode to form hydrogen.
Electrode
The electrode is where reaction of a chemical species occurs and electrons are either released or accepted. Typically this will be a metal, such as platinum in PEMFC.
Electrolyser
An electrochemical device which works like a fuel cell in reverse and can split water into its constituent molecules, hydrogen and oxygen, by passing an electric current through it.
Electrolyte
A substance which carries charge via the migration of ions; together with the external connections of a fuel cell, an electrical circuit can be created.
Fuel Cell
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device, which converts chemical energy to electrical energy without combustion. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell will continuously produce electricity as long as fuel is supplied and the catalyst remains active.
GDE
Gas diffusion electrode i.e. catalyst is coated onto the GDL
GDL
Gas diffusion layers, typically made out of carbon paper or cloth, play a number of important roles in a fuel cell, such as structural support, reactant transport, water removal, and heat conduction.