TIJER || ISSN 2349-9249 || © September 2023, Volume 10, Issue 9 || www.tijer.org TIJER2309018 TIJER - INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL www.tijer.org a142 A STUDY ON THE SELECTION OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE CATALYST FOR A LOCALLY DEVELOPED HYDROGEN FUEL CELL Ozigi B.O 1st , Odia O.O 2nd , Amiebenomo S.O 3rd 1 Senior Electrical Engineer, 2 Professor, 3 Senior Lecturer 1 Name of Department of 1 st Author, 1 Power Equipment and Electrical Machinery Development Institute. Okene,Kogi State Abstract - Energy generation and control has been one of the world's greatest challenges in the pursuit of sustainable and clean energy solutions. In this research study, a hydrogen fuel cell based on water electrolysis was locally designed developed with the aim of investigating the electrolyte concentration based on the most effective catalyst selected that will ensure efficiency in the overall performance of the hydrogen fuel cell. The catalyst selected were Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or Sodium chloride (NaCl). The study was conducted meticulously, taking into consideration the cost and accessibility of the materials, while the materials and equipment used were appropriate, facilitating accurate observations of the selected catalyst for the electrolyte preparation, optimizing performance and ensuring the functionality and feasibility of the designed fuel cell. The study's results indicated that a suitable concentration of the electrolyte leads to increased conductivity, which enhances the performance of the fuel cell. It was found that the hydrogen fuel cell using NaCl electrolyte demonstrated higher efficiency, with an average efficiency of 13.15%, compared to 9.17% for NaHCO3. This suggests that the NaCl electrolyte is suitable for maximizing fuel cell performance by ensuring superior conversion of electrical energy into usable power. Additionally, the most effective catalyst selected enhanced the gas diffusion rate and facilitates the surface reaction of reactants, thereby leading to improved hydrogen production efficiency and output. The performance of the electrolysis system was assessed by measuring variables such as current flow, hydrogen production rate, and energy consumption. Conclusively, findings from this study revealed significant variations in voltage and current generation based on the electrolyte choice. The voltage ranged from 15 mV to 44 mV for NaCl and from 14 mV to 34 mV for NaHCO3, while the corresponding current values varied between 10.0 mA and 24.6 mA for NaCl and between 9.0 mA and 21.0 mA for NaHCO3. These observations demonstrated the influence of electrolyte composition on the electrical performance of the fuel cell. Index Terms - Fuel Cells Electrolyte concentration, Catalyst selection, Energy efficiency, Renewable energy, Hydrogen fuel cell systems I. INTRODUCTION Finding alternative sources of energy has become increasingly important due to rising costs associated with conventional energy sources. Among the options available are renewable energy sources, which are replenished by nature, practically inexhaustible, and offer hope for the future. These sources include solar energy, geothermal energy, and the gravitational forces between celestial bodies (like the sun and the moon) and oceans [1]. Although renewable energy currently accounts for a small portion of the world's energy supply, advancements in technology have led to reduction in infrastructure costs with increased energy conversion yields. Experts predict that renewable energy could take up 30-50% of the energy supply by 2050 if production costs are managed and adequate energy reserves are created. However, these green energy sources cannot currently meet the energy demands of various stationary, mobile, and industrial systems. For this reason, there is a need to find energy modalities that are highly efficient, reliable and have minimal environmental impact [1]. Hydrogen fuel cells are one such technology which stand out as a reliable source of clean, sustainable energy generation. Researchers and visionaries are turning towards hydrogen as a new source of energy, revealing its potential as a conduit for secondary energy and as a source of clean energy for post-fossil fuel era. The possibility of an energy-conscious and sustainable future is now in sight, as humanity enters a new era of technological innovation and alternative energy exploration. The potentials for cleaner, regenerative, and continued energy sources are high, and it will pave the way for the decline of fossil fuel era. Hydrogen's distinct and exceptional qualities have brought it into the spotlight as an energy carrier. When used in conjunction with fuel cells, as hydrogen fuel cell, has gained immense attention for its remarkable capacity to competently transform the chemical energy of reactants into electrical energy. Fuel cells, which function as extraordinary electrochemical devices, enable the direct conversion of this chemical reaction's energy into electrical energy by blending hydrogen and oxygen to produce heat with water being a by-product [2]. Hydrogen fuel cells are encouraging alternatives to conventional electricity generation methods in small-scale applications because hydrogen fuel contains significant chemical energy. In terms of energy storage capacity, hydrogen is better than conventional battery materials, hence becoming widely developed for numerous energy applications [3]. According to Edwards et al. in 2008, hydrogen and fuel cells have come to be considered the key components of energy solutions for the 21st century [4]. They reached this conclusion based on the significant potential the technology offers for reducing environmental impact, enhancing energy security (and diversity), and creating new energy industries. Transportation, distributed heat and power generation, and energy storage systems are among the industries named as having high prospects for hydrogen and fuel cells. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the electrolyte concentration of a locally produced hydrogen fuel cell based on the most effective catalyst selected that will ensure efficiency in the overall performance of the hydrogen fuel cell. This is crucial as it is geared towards improving the efficiency of energy storage and usage in hydrogen fuel cells devices.