Fuel cell flow field having strong, chemically stable metal bipolar plates
US8309264B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bipolar plate (30) for use in a fuel cell stack (10) includes one or more first metal layers (40a) having a tendency to grow an electrically passive layer in the presence of a fuel cell reactant gas and one or more second metal layers (40b) directly adjacent the one or more first metal layers (40a). The second metal layer has a tendency to resist growing any oxide layer in the presence of the fuel cell reactant gas to maintain a threshold electrical conductivity. The second metal layer also has a section for contacting an electrode (12, 14) and providing an electrically conductive path between the electrode (12, 14) and the first metal layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.