Development and evaluation of nitride coated titanium bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bi, Jun; Yang, Jinmeng; Liu, Xiaoxiang; Wang, Dongdong; Yang, Zhaoyi; Liu, Gaoyang; Wang, Xindong
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 1144
• Page End: 1154
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell -- Powder immersion reaction assisted coating -- Titanium bipolar plate -- Corrosion resistance -- Interfacial contact resistance; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.09.217
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: In order to improve the conductivity of titanium bipolar plate under the premise of ensuring its corrosion resistance for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the nitride coatings are deposited on the surface of titanium bipolar plate via a powder immersion reaction assisted coating (PIRAC) method. Both the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) show that the dense titanium nitride coatings with the thickness around 1.5–2.5 μm are successfully prepared. Furthermore, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirm the presence of TiN, TiNx Oy and TiO2 phases on the surface of nitride coatings, and the content of these phases is tunable by adjusting the prepared temperatures. Both the microstructure, the thickness and the composition of the nitride coatings could be associated with the corrosion resistance and the interfacial contact resistance of the nitrided samples. We find that the nitrided samples prepared at 1000 °C could be the ideal mixed coating materials with the proper combination of the corrosion resistance and the interfacial contact resistance, which also show the best long-term stability in simulated PEMFC cathode environment. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: PIRAC was applied to the modification of titanium BPs for PEMFC. The nitride coating improves the corrosion resistance of titanium BPs. ICR of the nitride coating is significantly lower than bare titanium. ICR of nitride coating does not increase significantly after LTST.