Membrane Compatible Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

Bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells typically constitute more than half of a fuel cell stack's weight and 15-30% of its cost. The materials used need to have low electrical resistivity, be corrosion resistant and lightweight, of adequate mechanical stability and low-cost and be suitable for volume manufacture. The project will investigate the application of precision photo-chemical etching of low-cost conventional metal substrates combined with established nitride and/or carbon-based coatings, to be benchmarked against a thin (20nm) gold coating, as a means of achieving a step change in production volumes and lifetime cost reductions for metallic fuel cell bipolar plates.