Science and Technology of Fuel Cells:
The first fuel cell was built in 1839 by Sir William Grove, since then NASA and GM began fuel cell developments.
Fuel cells produce energy chemically without combustion called an electrochemical process. There are many different ways and chemicals that can create fuel cell energy. Some of the main ones include… “alkaline fuel cell (AFC), proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)”. Each type of chemical reaction or fuel cell has its own Electrolyte, Catalyst, operating temperature and electrical efficiency.
.
There are some definite perks to fuel cells, there is zero to low emissions, the production of fuel omits no hydrogen and if it does it is low leveled. Noise emissions are also low as well as the fact that fuel cell cars are the least polluting of other fuel run cars. Fuel cells are highly efficient because they do not burn fuel they are naturally more efficient than combustion processes. Fuel cells are flexible, secure, domestic and durable. Fuel cells can be used as uninterrupted power supply packs back up cell towers in remote places.
Fuel cells run on hydrogen the most available gas on the planet, but it does not occur naturally on its own it is usually with other elements. This mean it needs to be extracted from either non renewable and renewable sources. It is also the lightest element and tends to be in pairs. Hydrogen can be stored as either liquid or solids. Fuels cells have two electrodes in contact with a material that can conduct ions, called an electrolyte. Electrons are released from the hydrogen that is supplied to the anode. Electrodes in hydrogen fuel cells are relatively stable since they act as catalysts in the release or acceptance of electrons and are not chemically changed during this process.
Cells can be used to power homes but you cant buy a fuel cell to power your home, that technology has not been made available yet. BUT ! in some countries like Japan fuel cells are used and can be bought to fuel homes. The main application for fuel cells is for vehicles. fuel cell vehicles are viable options to battery powered cars, internal combustion engines and hybrids. They have no tailpipe emissions, because they avoid combustion and therefore use less fuel making them more efficient. To power hydrogen fuel cell vehicles generation stations have hydrogen onsite or receive shipments of hydrogen via truck or pipeline. Over 100 hydrogen fueling stations are currently operating around the world.
. 
Fuel cell technology is on the rise manipulating catalyst in fuel cell technologies is a way to improve efficiency. scientist are working on microbial fuel cells and many more new fuel cell technologies. Microbial fuel cells use the catalyst reaction of microorganisms and convert organic matter into fuel.
http://sepuplhs.org/high/hydrogen/hydrogen.html
http://www.fuelcells.org/base.cgim?template=faq
http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/basics.htm