Corrosion Behavior and Conductivity of TiNb and TiNbN Coated Steel for Metallic Bipolar Plates

Kun Shi; Xue Li; Yang Zhao; Wei-Wei Li; Shu-Bo Wang; Xiao-Feng Xie; Li Yao; Jens  Oluf Jensen; Qing-Feng Li

doi:10.3390/app9122568

Applied Sciences (Jun 2019)

Corrosion Behavior and Conductivity of TiNb and TiNbN Coated Steel for Metallic Bipolar Plates

Kun Shi,
Xue Li,
Yang Zhao,
Wei-Wei Li,
Shu-Bo Wang,
Xiao-Feng Xie,
Li Yao,
Jens Oluf Jensen,
Qing-Feng Li

Affiliations

Kun Shi: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xue Li: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Yang Zhao: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Wei-Wei Li: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Shu-Bo Wang: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xiao-Feng Xie: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Li Yao: Advanced Technology Department, SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, Shanghai 201804, China
Jens Oluf Jensen: Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Qing-Feng Li: Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122568
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 12
p. 2568

Abstract

Read online

To improve corrosion resistance and electronic conductivity of bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), coatings of TiNb and TiNbN on 316L stainless steel (SS) were prepared by magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements confirmed the existence of metallic nitrides in the TiNbN coating. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests showed that the deposited coatings provided smooth surfaces. Further electrochemical measurements indicated that the corrosion resistance of TiNb coating was significantly higher than that of substrate. At 0.19 V vs MSE, the long-term stabilized current density of TiNb/316L SS was lower than 1 μA·cm−2. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) values between coating and carbon paper suggested that TiNb and TiNbN films had better contact conductivity than 316L SS substrate. In conclusion, TiNb coated 316L SS metallic bipolar plate material is a promising option for PEMFC.

Published in Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2076-3417 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General); Science: Biology (General); Science: Physics; Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords