Characterization and properties of NbN-Nb bilayer formed on titanium for bipolar plates

In this study, the NbN/Nb bilayer structure was prepared by duplex-treatment (plasma surface alloying + nitriding) on titanium used as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Niobium coating was deposited on titanium by means of double glow plasma surface alloying technique. Then, a thin NbN layer was created by plasma nitriding. The corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of samples were measured in simulated PEMFCs environments. The result shows that at an applied potential of 0.6 V the corrosion current density of duplex-treated sample is two orders lower than that of untreated titanium. After corrosion testing at 0.6 V for 4 h, the interfacial contact resistance is 5.1 m omega cm(2) compared with 29.7 m omega cm(2 )for untreated titanium.

Automated summary

In this study, a NbN/Nb bilayer structure was prepared on titanium to be used as bipolar plates for PEMFCs. The corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of the samples were measured in simulated PEMFCs environments. The findings show that the duplex-treated sample exhibits significantly lower corrosion current density and interfacial contact resistance compared to untreated titanium.