Evaluation of electroplated copper coating on ferritic stainless steel for solid oxide fuel cells interconnects.

A Cu coating was deposited on SUS 430 ferritic stainless steel by a low-cost method of electroplating which was employed for the protection of solid oxide fuel cell metallic interconnects. After oxidation, a two-layer oxide scale consisting of an external layer of CuO and an internal layer of Cr 2 O 3 was primarily formed on the coated steel, and a spinel layer consisting of Cu, Cr, Fe and Mn was formed at the CuO/Cr 2 O 3 interface. The CuO outer layer not only suppressed the Cr 2 O 3 scale growth but also served as an effective obstacle against Cr outward diffusion. The coated steels had lower scale area-specific resistances (ASRs) compared to the uncoated steel. The oxidation mechanism and surface scale electrical properties of the coated steel were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]