Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, I've been reading about fuel cells and I've been wondering if it could be powered using salt water and oxygen from the air. Is it possible?
Thank you.

Hi mak,

It's funny that you bring this up because I was just reading about salt-water fuel cell cars made by this company called Jameco. (Maybe you've heard of it?) They come close to what you mentioned, but they do need a little more than just saltwater (the electrode) and the air (the cathode, in the form of a carbon sheet). This extra bit that I'm talking about is magnesium (the anode). So the answer to your question is no, not with just those two materials. You need an anode in order to complete the fuel cell.

I believe that the answer of Mg, Carbon and salt water would make this a battery, not a fuel cell. Batteries like this have been around for at least a century.