Conductive coatings for PEM fuel cell electrodes
US7037617B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Electrical contact surfaces of a bipolar plate for a fuel cell assembly are formed of metals or metal alloys which when oxidized form highly conductive oxide passivation layers, thus maintaining high electrical conductivity and continuity through the fuel cell and forestalling corrosion failure of a cell assembly. Alloy composition systems such as, but not limited to, Ti—Nb, Ti—Ta, La—Sr—Cr, and La—Sr—Co are known to form oxide passivation layers which are highly conductive. The passivation layers may be formed in situ after assembly of a fuel cell or may be provided in an oxidative step during manufacture. The bipolar plate may be formed entirely of one or more of such alloys or may be formed of an inexpensive substrate metal having the alloy layers coated thereupon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.