Properties of C-doped CrTiN films on the 316L stainless steel bipolar plate for PEMFC

C doped CrTiN films were deposited on 316L stainless steel by magnetron sputtering technology to investigate corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. The sputtering current of the C target alter to obtain various C contents. The carbon target currents are 0 A, 3 A and 6 A, respectively. The result of SEM confirms that deposited films have a dense and uniform microstructure. CrTiN coating consist of Cr, CrN and TiN phases. With the increase of C carbon target currents, Cr crystal structure vanishes, and the amorphous carbon and carbides appear. The result of the potentiodynamic polarization test in the simulate PEMFC environment reveals that C doped CrTiN coating can improve samples' corrosion resistance. At 1.1 V (vs. SHE) potentiostatic tests, the C-6A has the lowest current density, 6.09 x 10(-7) A/cm(2). Interfacial contact resistance decreases with the addition of C atoms. The C-6A coated sample has the lowest interfacial contact resistance values, 5.5 mU cm(2). (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

C doped CrTiN films were deposited on 316L stainless steel by magnetron sputtering technology to investigate corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. The addition of C can improve corrosion resistance, and the interfacial contact resistance decreases with the increase of C content.