Comparison of performance degradation of high temperature PEM fuel cells with different bipolar plates

Wei Mon Yan, Chen Yu Chen, Chia Hao Liang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Applying metallic bipolar plates on high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells, which are practical for stationary applications, is a considerable option to reduce the cost and to improve the specific power of this type of fuel cell. To understand the life issue of the high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells with metallic bipolar plates, the performance degradation phenomena with graphite, uncoated 304 stainless steel, and gold coated 304 stainless steel bipolar plates are studied and compared. The experimental results show that the order of performance degradation rate is uncoated 304 stainless steel > gold coated 304 stainless steel ∼ graphite. The faster performance degradation of the high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells with uncoated 304 stainless steel bipolar plates can be attributed to the dramatic increase in the ohmic resistance, which is due to the formation of ferric oxide and iron phosphate on the metal surface. In addition, gold coating peels off from the stainless steel bipolar plate after a 432-hr operation. A coating layer with an improved life is still needed to further extend the operating life of this type of fuel cell.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115836
JournalEnergy
Volume186
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2019

Keywords

  • Cell resistance
  • High temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell
  • Performance degradation
  • Stainless steel bipolar plate
  • Surface element analysis

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