Electromagnetic-carbon surface treatment of composite bipolar plate for high-efficiency polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) or proton-exchange membrane fuel cell systems are environmentally friendly power sources for many applications. Bipolar plates are essential components of a PEM fuel cell. Recently, composite bipolar plates have received considerable interest due to their superior performance. The most important properties of bipolar plates are electrical resistance and contact resistance, which are largely dependent on the surface morphology of the bipolar plate, because low electrical resistance improves the efficiency of PEM fuel cells. In this study, a selective surface preparation technology is developed using an electromagnetic field and carbon black (electromagnetic-carbon surface treatment). The carbon black is heated by an electromagnetic field on the surface of the bipolar plate with a high rate of temperature rise. The non-electrically conducting surface resin is removed, without damaging the carbon fibre to give a low electrical resistance. It is found that the surface-treated composite bipolar plate has a lower electrical resistance than those of conventional composite bipolar plates, and that the electromagnetic-carbon surface treatment can be applied for production of the composite bipolar plates in a fast and efficient process.