Abstract
As the nations of the world continue to develop, their industrialization and growing populations will require increasing amounts of energy. Yet, global energy consumption, even at present levels, has already given rise to major concerns over the security of future supplies, together with the attendant twin problems of environmental degradation and climate change. Accordingly, countries are examining a whole range of new policies and technology issues to make their energy futures ‘sustainable’, that is, to maintain economic growth and cultural values whilst providing energy security and environmental protection. A step in the right direction is to place electrochemical power sources—serviceable, efficient and clean technology—at the cutting edge of energy strategies, regardless of the relatively low price of such traditional fuels as coal, mineral oil and natural gas. Following a chronicle of the events that led up to the discovery of batteries and fuel cells, the paper discusses the application of these devices as important technology for shifting primary energy demand away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources that are more abundant, less expensive and/or more environmentally benign. Finally, consideration is given to the idea of introducing hydrogen as the universal vector for conveying renewable forms of energy and also as the ultimate non-polluting fuel. Fuel cells are the key enabling technology for a hydrogen economy. As requested, the paper opens with a brief account of the circumstances by which the author joined others on a fascinating journey on the electrochemical road to sustainability.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
St. Jacques PL, Dolcos F, Cabeza R (2009) Psychol Sci 20(1):74–84
Agar JN, Bowden FP (1938) Proc Royal Soc Lond A 169:206–234
Turner R (1996) John Agar: obituary. The Independent, 6 August. London, UK
Allmand AJ (1912) The principles of applied electrochemistry. Arnold, London
Robinson RA, Stokes RH (1955) Electrolyte solutions. Butterworth, London
Du Fay CF (1733-1734) Philos Trans R Soc Lond 38:258–266
Wiedemann G (1893) Die Lehre von der Elektrizität, vol 1. Vieweg und Sohn, Braunschweig, p 139
Watson W (1746) Philos Trans R Soc Lond 44:41–50
Galvani A (1791) De Bononiensi Scientiarum et Artium Instituto atque Academia Commentarii 7:363–415
Volta A (1800) Philos Trans R Soc Lond 90:403–431, read 26 June 1800
Nicholson W, Carlisle A (1800) Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and the Arts 4:179–187 (generally known as Nicholson’s Journal); also German version: Nicholson W, Carlisle A (1800). Ann Phys 6:340–359
Davy J (ed) (1839) The collected works of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart LLD FRS. Smith, Elder and Co. Cornhill, London, 2:139
James FAJL (ed) (1993) The correspondence of Michael Faraday. Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, 2:176–177
Bockris JO’M (1971) J Chem Educ 48:352–358
Tricker RAR (1966) The contributions of Faraday and Maxwell to electrical science. Pergamon, Oxford, p 77
Heise GW, Cahoon NC (1971) The primary battery, volume I. Wiley, New York, p 13
Nernst W (1889) Z Phys Chem 4:129–82
Butler JAV (1924) Trans Faraday Soc 19:729–734
Erdey-Grûz T, Volmer M (1930) Z Phys Chem A 150:203–213
Tafel J (1905) Z Phys Chem 50:641–711
G Inzelt (2011) J Solid State Electrochem (in press)
Caspari WA (1899) Z Phys Chem 30:89–97
Grove WR (1874) The correlation of physical forces, 6th edn. Longmans, London, p 237
Wade J (1902) Secondary batteries: their theory, construction and use. The Electrician, London, p 15
Siemens CW (1881) A contribution to the history of secondary batteries. Telegraphic J 1881:376
Planté G (1860) C R Acad Sci 50:640–642
Planté G (1883) Recherches sur l’Électricité: de 1859 à 1879. In 1st ed., Fourneau A, Paris; 2nd suppl. ed., Gauthier-Villars, Paris, France. The reprint of l’Édition du Centenaire de Gaston Planté (1934) is available from the French National Library, http://gallica.bnf.fr
Jache O (1966) U S Patent 3:257–237
McClelland DH, Devitt JL (1975) U S Patent 3:862–861
Devitt J (1997) J Power Sources 64:153–156
Rand DAJ, Moseley PT, Garche J, Parker CD (eds) (2004) Valve-regulated lead–acid batteries. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Garche J, Dyer CK, Moseley PT, Ogumi Z, Rand DAJ, Scrosati B (2009) Encyclopedia of electrochemical power sources. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Dell RM, Rand DAJ (2001) Understanding batteries. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge
Schönbein CF (1839) Lond Edinb Philos Mag J Sci 3(14):43–45
Grove WR (1839) Lond Edinb Philos Mag J Sci 3(14):127–130
Grove WR (1842) Lond Edinb Philos Mag J Sci 3(21):417–420
Mond L, Langer CA (1889) Proc R Soc Lond 46:296–304
Jacques WW (1896) Harper’s New Mon Mag 94:144–150
Ostwald W (1894) Z Elektrotech Elektrochem 1:122–125
Haber F, Bruner L (1904) Z Elektrotech Elektrochem 10:697–713
Haber F, Moser A (1905) Z Elektrotech Elektrochem 11:593–609
Haber F (1906) Z Anor Allg Chem 61:245–288
Haber F, Foster GWA (1906) Z Anor Allg Chem 61:289–314
Baur E, Ehrenberg H (1912) Z Elektrotech Elektrochem 18:1002–1011
Appleby AJ, Foulkes FR (1993) Fuel cell handbook. Krieger, Florida, p 8
Bacon FT (1969) Electrochim Acta 14:569–585
Dell RM, Rand DAJ (2004) Clean energy. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge
Bruntland G (ed) (1987) Our common future. The World Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Cooper A, Lam LT, Moseley PT, Rand DAJ (2004) The next great challenge for valve-regulated lead–acid batteries: high-rate partial-state-of-charge duty in new-generation road vehicles. In: Rand DAJ, Moseley PT, Garche J, Parker CD (eds) Valve-regulated lead–acid batteries. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Lam LT, Haigh NP, Phyland CG, Rand DAJ (2005) High performance energy storage devices. International Patent WO/ 2005/027255. (2011) European Patent 10012506.1-1227/2273602
FreedomCAR Battery Test Manual for Power-Assist Hybrid Electric Vehicles (2003) US Department of Energy, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE). Idaho Operations Office, Contract DE-AC07-99ID1 3727DOE/ID-11069
Larminie J, Dicks A (2003) Fuel cell systems explained, Second edn. Wiley, Chichester
Rand DAJ, Dell RM (2008) Hydrogen energy—challenges and prospects. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge
Collot A-G (2003) Prospects for hydrogen from coal. Report CCC/78. International Energy Agency (IEA), Clean Coal Centre, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rand, D.A.J. A journey on the electrochemical road to sustainability. J Solid State Electrochem 15, 1579–1622 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-011-1410-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-011-1410-z