Optimizing the interfacial potential distribution to mitigate high transient potential induced dissolution on C/Ti coated metal bipolar plates used in PEMFCs

Developing a conductive and corrosion-resistant coating on metal bipolar plates is essential to mitigate the degradation induced by the high cathodic transient potentials of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In this work, a multilayer nanoscale C/Ti coating is prepared on SS316L (C/Ti/SS). The C/Ti/SS achieves a highly prominent ICR of 1.59 m omega cm2 and corrosion rate of 2 x 10-8 A/cm2, remarkably better than the targets. Analysis of coating microstructure and composition suggests that the significantly enhanced corrosion resistance is attributed to the diffusional interfaces which optimize the potential distribution across the coating and improve the transpassive potential of C/Ti/SS.

Automated summary

Developing a conductive and corrosion-resistant coating on metal bipolar plates is crucial for mitigating degradation in proton exchange membrane fuel cells caused by high cathodic transient potentials. In this study, a multilayer nanoscale C/Ti coating was prepared on SS316L and achieved an outstanding ICR of 1.59 m ohm cm2 and corrosion rate of 2 x 10-8 A/cm2. Analysis of the coating's microstructure and composition revealed that the significantly enhanced corrosion resistance is attributed to diffusional interfaces which optimize potential distribution across the coating and improve the transpassive potential of C/Ti/SS.