The switchable generation of hydrogen from a hydrazine solution was achieved with an electrochemical cell that has a cobalt anode and a platinum cathode. The H-2 generator is based on the combination of hydrazine electro-oxidation on cobalt anode and H2O electro-reduction on platinum cathode. The rate of H-2 generation was regulated by switching with no power supply. Slight electricity was generated from this cell along with H-2. This cell uses selective anode and cathode catalysts, and hence a membraneless (one-compartment) structure could be realized for the regulation of H-2 generation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.