<abstract abstract-type="toc"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <graphic position="anchor" id="ga" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgj2fh0jb76" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" />A ZrN coating with an average grain size of ∼15 nm, was employed to improve the surface performance and durability of 316L stainless steel (SS) used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) environments.</p> </abstract>