In this paper, a chemical treatment method was developed to process the aluminum bipolar plates of proton electrolyte membrane fuel cells. During the surface treatment process, the chemical in the aluminum reacts with the electrolyte forming a metallic compound film with weak-atomic bonding. The adhesion property of this film is stronger than that of electroplating. This process is fast and much cheaper then physical vapor deposition processes. Anti-corrosion capability of the processed bipolar plates was analyzed using chemical and electrochemical methods. The corrosion curves computed by the linear polarization method showed the chemically modified film to have stable chemical and electrochemical characteristics. The surface and bulk electric conductivities, however, decreased slightly. Single cells of the bipolar plates, both with and without the chemically treated aluminum, were assembled for performance tests. The results showed that the single cell with chemically treated bipolar plates had a higher surface contact resistance and a decreased cell performance, but the cell life was longer. Future research efforts need to focus on improving the surface film conductivity and cell performance.
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e-mail: mesjl@saturn.yzu.edu.tw
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August 2005
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Design Innovations
Chemical Treatment Method for the Aluminum Bipolar Plates of PEM Fuel Cells
Shuo-Jen Lee,
Shuo-Jen Lee
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: mesjl@saturn.yzu.edu.tw
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, Taiwan
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Ching-Han Huang,
Ching-Han Huang
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, Taiwan
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Yu-Pang Chen,
Yu-Pang Chen
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, Taiwan
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Yen-Ming Chen
Yen-Ming Chen
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, Taiwan
Search for other works by this author on:
Shuo-Jen Lee
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, Taiwane-mail: mesjl@saturn.yzu.edu.tw
Ching-Han Huang
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, Taiwan
Yu-Pang Chen
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, Taiwan
Yen-Ming Chen
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 FarEast Road, NeiLi, TaoYuan, TaiwanJ. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Aug 2005, 2(3): 208-212 (5 pages)
Published Online: March 9, 2005
Article history
Received:
March 21, 2004
Revised:
March 9, 2005
Citation
Lee, S., Huang, C., Chen, Y., and Chen, Y. (March 9, 2005). "Chemical Treatment Method for the Aluminum Bipolar Plates of PEM Fuel Cells." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. August 2005; 2(3): 208–212. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1928931
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