Bipolar plate for fuel cells, and production method

US11114675B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE
• Technische Universitaet Dresden · DE

Inventors

• Slavcho Topalski · Dortmund, DE
• Teja Roch · Dresden, DE
• Thomas Stucky · Dortmund, DE
• Axel Zwick · Aachen, DE
• Giorgio Maurizio · Witten, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 20, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 7, 2021
• Expiry date: Jul 23, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The bipolar plate of the invention for electrochemical cells, especially for proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, is made with a metallic substrate and on the surface is made with an electrical contact resistance-reducing, carbon-based layer, a layer system or a boundary layer which is made of a near-surface, primarily sp2-bonded, carbon-based layer having a carbon fraction ranging from 50% to 100%, this layer being applied on a metallic substrate surface that is modified relative to the starting material. There may also be a surface region of the substrate in the form of an edge layer made with nitride and/or carbon by nitriding and/or carburizing. On the surface which is in touching contact with a gas-permeable element within the electrochemical cell, the metallic substrate may have a structuring made with elevations and/or depressions in the respective surface.