Conducting polymer-coated stainless steel bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 30; no. 12; pp. 1339 - 1344
• Main Authors: Joseph, Shine, McClure, J.C., Chianelli, R., Pich, P., Sebastian, P.J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bipolar plate; Conducting polymers; Contact resistance; Corrosion; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; PEM fuel cell; Stainless steel; Conducting polymers; Contact resistance; Bipolar plate; Corrosion; Stainless steel; PEM fuel cell; Cyclic voltammetry; Bipolar; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Pyrrole polymer; Aniline polymer; Plate
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2005.04.011

Stainless steel satisfies many of the requirements for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell bipolar plates except its corrosion under fuel cell operating conditions. Metal oxide formation leads to contact resistance, and metal dissolution can cause contamination of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). These problems can be solved by coating stainless steel plates with corrosion resistant and conductive layers. In this study, 304 stainless steel was coated electrochemically with the conducting polymers polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPY). Cyclic voltammetry was used for the polymerization and deposition of these polymers. The polymer-coated stainless steel plates were tested for corrosion and contact resistance under PEM fuel cell conditions, which showed improved corrosion resistance with acceptable contact resistance.