Metal bipolar plates for PEM fuel cell—A review

During the operation of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, a high-resistance oxide is often formed on the cathode surface of base metal bipolar plates. Over time, this corrosion mechanism leads to a drop in fuel cell efficiency and potentially to complete failure. To address this problem, we have developed alloys capable of forming oxides that are both conductive and chemically stable under PEM fuel cell operating conditions. Five alloys of titanium with tantalum or niobium were investigated. The oxides were formed on the alloys by cyclic voltammetry in solutions mimicking the cathode- and anode-side environment of a PEM fuel cell. The oxides of all tested alloys had lower surface resistance than the oxide of pure titanium. We also investigated the chemical durability of Ti–Nb and Ti–Ta alloys in more concentrated solutions beyond those typically found in PEM fuel cells. The oxide films formed on Ti–Nb and Ti–Ta alloys remained conductive and chemically stable in these concentrated solutions. The stability of the oxide films was evaluated; Ti alloys having 3% Ta and Nb were identified as potential candidates for bipolar plate materials.

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Measurement of the electrical contact resistance of PEM fuel cell bipolar plates

2013 8TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ADVANCED TOPICS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (ATEE) ◽

10.1109/atee.2013.6563502 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laurentiu Gabriel Patularu ◽

Dorin Marius Schitea ◽

Aurelian Craciunescu

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Contact Resistance ◽

Electrical Contact ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Bipolar Plates ◽

Electrical Contact Resistance

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Corrosion Investigation of Chromium Nitride and Chromium Carbide Coatings for PEM Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates in Simulated Cathode Condition

Fuel Cells ◽

10.1002/fuce.201600005 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 356-364 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

H. Haghighat Ghahfarokhi ◽

A. Saatchi ◽

S. M. Monirvaghefi

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Chromium Carbide ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Chromium Nitride ◽

Bipolar Plates ◽

Carbide Coatings ◽

Corrosion Investigation ◽

Chromium Carbide Coatings

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Corrosion-Resistant Tantalum Coatings for PEM Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-756-ff7.2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 756 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leszek Gladczuk ◽

Chirag Joshi ◽

Anamika Patel ◽

Jim Guiheen ◽

Zafar Iqbal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Substrate Surface ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Pem Fuel Cells ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Body Centered Cubic ◽

Bipolar Plates ◽

Corrosion Resistant ◽

Tantalum Coatings

ABSTRACTTantalum is a tough, corrosion resistant metal, which would be suitable for use as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, if it was not for its high weight and price. Relatively thin tantalum coatings, however, can be deposited on other inexpensive and lighter weight metals, such as aluminum and steel, providing a passive protection layer on these easily formed substrates. We have successfully deposited, high quality α (body-centered-cubic, bcc) and β (tetragonal) phase tantalum coatings that were a few micrometers thick by dc magnetron sputtering on steel and aluminum. The growth of the thermodynamically preferred body-centered-cubic (bcc) tantalum phase was induced by a choice of deposition conditions and substrate surface treatment. The microstructure and corrosion resistance of the α-phase in an environment approximately simulating the electrochemical conditions used in a PEM fuel cell were investigated under potentiodynamic conditions. Preliminary potentiostatic measurements of a β-phase sample are also presented.

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