High-performance polybenzoxazine based composites PEMFC bipolar plates with a multi-layer structure for surface enrichment of conductive phase

In this study, a multilayer high-performance polybenzoxazine/expanded graphite composite bipolar plate with a 'graphite-composites-graphite' structure was prepared by compressing molding. The surface graphite layer and the conductive network were con-structed by hot compressing of graphite paper and the polybenzoxazine/expanded graphite composites. The results show that the multilayer synergy makes composite BP reach an in -plane conductivity of 278.85 S cm-1, an area specific resistance of 9.70 mU cm2 and a flexural strength of 75.75 MPa. The 'graphite-composites-graphite' structure can make the power density of a single cell assembled by the multilayer composite BP increase by 111.02% and 113.80%. In conclusion, the multilayer bipolar plate with a 'graphite -composites-graphite' structure is a promising polymer composite bipolar plate for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).(c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, a multilayer high-performance polybenzoxazine/expanded graphite composite bipolar plate with a 'graphite-composites-graphite' structure was prepared. The results showed that the multilayer synergy improved the conductivity and flexural strength of the composite bipolar plate, leading to an increased power density of the assembled cell.