How technically/physically plausible is this exotic sci-fi fuel cell concept?

[Ranchoth]

I have to admit, chemistry and fuel cell design aren’t my strong suits. But I was wondering if anyone could help me fact-check an unusual fictional fuel cell design mentioned in a steampunk robotics site:

[The] fuel cells produced power by oxidizing Iron to Iron Sulfate in a working medium of liquid Mercury catalyzed by dissolved Lead. This can be seen from the frequent references to (HgFeSO)2 and Pb in Campion’s notes. The electricity from the fuel cell was directly applied to a single electric motor[.]

While the fuel source of reduced iron and sulfur was readily available and reasonably inexpensive during the late 1800s, the system was hardly environmentally friendly - and it is no wonder that modern fuel cell research has come nowhere near to a similar solution.

It certainly sounds interesting, to be sure, but the fact I’ve never even heard of anything similar in the real world leaves me wondering if this is even a theoretically possible means of producing electricity, if not a technologically possible or plausible scheme…or if this is just a gussied up variant of “eye of newt and some minced Quantums.” Y’know, pure technobabble.

So…might any of you bully chums help me sort out this piffle from the bosh?

[AndrewL]

It sounds similar to the Mercury Beating Heart reaction, and I suspect that’s what inspired it. I I don’t know if it theoretically possible to make an iron-iron sulfate battery using a mercury/lead amalgam as an electrolyte, but there is at least a chemical reaction there that could be used as a power source.

[aruvqan]

@AndrewL

It sounds similar to the Mercury Beating Heart reaction, and I suspect that’s what inspired it. I I don’t know if it theoretically possible to make an iron-iron sulfate battery using a mercury/lead amalgam as an electrolyte, but there is at least a chemical reaction there that could be used as a power source.

Holy crap, the video of that is strange!