TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The fuel cell device is a carbon based cell device and the ionically conducting membrane is Nafion. A nylon mesh surrounding the carbon based fuel cell electrodes is provided. The pressure producing portion further comprises an electrical source connected to the electrode leads (I,II) and controlled between a voltage (I) which produces a pressure increase, and a lower voltage (II) which produces a pressure decrease. The pressure accepting portion contains a flexible outer membrane, a piston (320) and an output port providing pressurized fluid. A liquid electrolyte, preferably aqueous phosphate buffer is provided within the support structure.Preferred Process: Short-circuiting across the anode and cathode is performed while reversing the voltage. The gas generated is used as a pressurized gas to generate pressure while applying a voltage to generate gas and to relieve pressure while recombining the gas to liquid. An interface area between the gas within the fuel cell and an electrolytic area of the fuel cell are increased. The electrolytic area is surrounded with the mesh material, to increase the interface. The fuel cell device is a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell device and by applying the voltage hydrogen and oxygen gas are generated. Preferably the electrochemical cell is energized to cause gas expansion. The gas expansion is used to perform a function. The electrochemical cell is de-energized to regenerate the fuel cell by absorbing the gas. The energizing is performed by applying a voltage to the electrodes of the fuel cell and the de-energizing is performed by short-circuiting across the electrodes. A housing (299) containing the fuel cell is expanded and a piston coupled to the fuel cell is moved using the gas expansion.Preferred Fuel Cell: The fuel cell further comprises a potential source which operates to apply bias to electrodes (312,314). The bias level (I) causes expansion of the support structure, and the bias level (II) causes contraction of the support structure. The outer surface of the membrane electrode assembly presses against an inner surface of the support structure when the bias level (II) is applied.