Fuel Cell is an electrochemical conversion device.
Hydrogen on the anode side and oxygen on the cathode side, are used. Usually
reactants flow in and product, which is water here, flows out. The byproducts of fuel cell i.e. water, is harmless to the
environment. By principle, fuel cell is the most efficient technology for the production of electricity. The principle behind fuel cell was discovered long back in 1838. It was only in 1960s that it found use in the US space program. But commercializing it has become a real big problem. High costs, environmental drawbacks, early adoption risks and adaptability issues are hurdles for its successful commercialization. Hydrogen is one of the major components of fuel cell. Hydrogen production by electrolysis is a costly process and is not environment
friendly. But now hydrogen can be produced by biophotolysis of water by microalgae and cyanobacteria. Green algae, Scenedesmus , can produce hydrogen under anaerobic condition. Still there are some adaptability issues which are to be dealt with. Soaring prices of fossil fuels have created insecurity in the minds of humans. There have been many wars to its name. Fossil fuels are not to last forever and are not environment friendly. Fuel cells are the best alternative to fossil fuels. It has got versatile applications. It is the best tool to tackle the problem of global warming.Because of technological innovations, the gross production of fuel cell is now feasible. Within the next five years it is expected to reach the masses and touch everyone’s life in someway or the other.