Abstract
Bipolar Plates (BPPs) are the most crucial component of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system. To improve fuel cell stack performance and lifetime, corrosion resistance and Interfacial Contact Resistance (ICR) enhancement are two essential factors for metallic BPPs. One of the most effective methods to achieve this purpose is adding a thin solid film of conductive coating on the surfaces of these plates. In the present study, 410 Stainless Steel (SS) was selected as a metallic bipolar plate. The coating process was performed using titanium nitride and chromium nitride by the Cathodic Arc Evaporation (CAE) method. The main focus of this study was to select the best coating among CrN and TiN on the proposed alloy as a substrate of PEM fuel cells through the comparison technique with simultaneous consideration of corrosion resistance and ICR value. After verifying the TiN and CrN coating compound, the electrochemical assessment was conducted by the potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The results of PDP show that all coated samples have an increase in the polarization resistance () values (ranging from 410.2 to 690.6 ) compared to substrate 410 SS (230.1). Corrosion rate values for bare 410 SS, CrN, and TiN coatings were measured as 0.096, 0.032, and 0.060 , respectively. Facilities for X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM, TeScan-Mira III model and made in the Czech Republic), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) were utilized to perform phase, corrosion behavior, and microstructure analysis. Furthermore, ICR tests were performed on both coated and uncoated specimens. However, the ICR of the coated samples increased slightly compared to uncoated samples. Finally, according to corrosion performance results and ICR values, it can be concluded that the CrN layer is a suitable choice for deposition on 410 SS with the aim of being used in a BPP fuel cell system.
Highlights
As a result of the rising cost of fossil fuels and the pressing need for environmental protection, special attention has been paid to fuel cells as viable alternative energy sources [1]
The coating’s flat silver color (Figure 5b) and Sensors 2022, 22, x FOR PEER REVIEW analysis of the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results compared to reference patterns confirm the presence of the chromium nitride (CrN) 8 of 18 phase on the Stainless Steel (SS) substrate
The peaks associated with the (111), (200), (220), and (311) planes are visible in the diffraction pattern of the titanium nitride (TiN)-coated specimen, which is consistent with the standard plane has a pattern high intensity, indicating the coating’s preferred direction diffraction and reference patternthat
Summary
As a result of the rising cost of fossil fuels and the pressing need for environmental protection, special attention has been paid to fuel cells as viable alternative energy sources [1]. OfIntroduction the essential components in PEM fuel cells, responsible for separating cells, electrically connecting theofcathode one cell to theand anode of another feeding. As a result the risingof cost of fossil fuels the pressing needcell, for environmental protection, special attention has beenheat paidand to fuel cells as viable alternative reactive gases through gas channels, and removing byproducts from the fuel energy cell sources [1]. BPPs are one of the essential components in PEM fuel cells, responsible [2,3]. Bipolar plates should possess unique characteristics, including non-per-for separating cells, electrically connecting the cathode of one cell to the anode of another cell, meability of gas,feeding high reactive mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, high corrosion regases through gas channels, and removing heat and byproducts from the sistance, mechanical and[2,3].
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