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Alloys that form conductive and passivating oxides for proton exchange membrane fuel cell bipolar plates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

Neil Aukland ,
Abdellah Boudina ,
David S. Eddy ,
Joseph V. Mantese ,
Margarita P. Thompson  and
Simon S. Wang
Neil Aukland
Affiliation:
Delphi Research Laboratories, Delphi Corporation, 51786 Shelby Parkway, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315
Abdellah Boudina
Affiliation:
Delphi Research Laboratories, Delphi Corporation, 51786 Shelby Parkway, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315
David S. Eddy
Affiliation:
Delphi Research Laboratories, Delphi Corporation, 51786 Shelby Parkway, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315
Joseph V. Mantese
Affiliation:
Delphi Research Laboratories, Delphi Corporation, 51786 Shelby Parkway, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315
Margarita P. Thompson
Affiliation:
Delphi Research Laboratories, Delphi Corporation, 51786 Shelby Parkway, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315
Simon S. Wang*
Affiliation:
Delphi Research Laboratories, Delphi Corporation, 51786 Shelby Parkway, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author.email: suchee.wang@delphi.com
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

AlloysFuel cellConductive oxide
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , June 2004 , pp. 1723 - 1729
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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