Difference Between Fuel Cell and Battery

The key difference between fuel cell and battery is that a fuel cell can supply electrical energy for a long period of time compared to a normal battery.

The concepts of fuel cell and battery come under the category of electrochemistry. These are devices that can produce electrical energy using chemical reactions. Therefore, the energy production process that takes place inside both these devices is similar in nature.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Fuel Cell 
3. What is a Battery
4. Side by Side Comparison – Fuel Cell vs Battery in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is a Fuel Cell?

A fuel cell is a device that can convert chemical energy into electrical energy. It resembles a battery, but it can provide us with the electrical energy for a long time period compared to a normal battery. The reactions take place inside this cell are called electrochemical reactions because they can produce electrical energy. We can provide enough fuel and air into this cell continuously from an external source. So, this is the reason for the prolonged energy production.

Furthermore, this property has made it very useful in applications such as space probes, satellites, spacecraft, etc. Besides, fuel cells are planted in various places such as utility power plants, hospitals, schools, hotels, etc.

What is a Battery?

A battery is a device containing two or more electrochemical cells that can convert chemical energy into electrical energy directly. It has external connections to power electric devices such as flashlights, mobile phones, etc. the positive terminal of the battery is a cathode, and the negative terminal is an anode. The electrons move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal through an external circuit.

When we connect the battery with an external electric load, a redox reaction takes place. The reaction can convert high energy reactants to low energy products. Here, the difference between these energy values is delivered to the external circuit in the form of electrical energy. There are two different batteries as primary and secondary batteries. Primary batteries cannot be recharged, but secondary batteries are rechargeable.

What are the Similarities Between Fuel Cell and Battery?

• Both these devices can produce electrical energy using chemical energy.
• The process that takes place inside both these devices is similar.

What is the Difference Between Fuel Cell and Battery?

The key difference between fuel cell and battery is that a fuel cell can supply electrical energy for a long period of time compared to a normal battery. Furthermore, a fuel cell is continuously supplied with fuel and oxygen from an external source, which makes it work for a long time period; however, a battery contains a limited amount of fuel and oxidant, and these two components decrease with time, so this device cannot supply electrical energy for a long period of time.

The below infographic summarizes the difference between fuel cell and battery.

Summary – Fuel Cell vs Battery

Both fuel cell and battery are similar to each other according to the processes that take place inside these devices. Moreover, both these can produce electrical energy using chemical energy. However, there is a distinct difference between fuel cell and battery. The key difference between fuel cell and battery is that a fuel cell can supply electrical energy for a long period of time compared to a normal battery.

Reference:

1. Schumm, Brooke. “Fuel Cell.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
2. Schumm, Brooke. “Battery.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
3. “Electric Battery.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Sept. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Fuel cell NASA p48600ac” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Batteries” By en:User:Brianiac – en:Image:Batteries.jpg (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia