Abstract
SnO2films were supplied on the surface of 304 stainless steel (304SS) by a sol–gel process followed by a hydrothermal post treatment. The measurements of XRD, SEM and water contact angles were carried out to characterize the as-prepared samples. The effect of hydrothermal post treatments in different media such as deionized (DI) water, HF solution and NaOH solution on the corrosion performances of the SnO2films in simulated proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) environments was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization measurements. The results suggested that the SnO2films via the hydrothermal post treatment in 0.3 M NaOH solution showed a highest corrosion resistance and could act as an optimal barrier layer to metallic bipolar plates in simulated PEMFC environments. It could be attributed that the hydrothermal post treatment in NaOH solution was beneficial to improve the compact structure and enhance the hydrophobic property of the SnO2films.
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