Electrochemical characteristics and interfacial contact resistance of multi-layered Ti/TiN coating for metallic bipolar-plate of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

Metallic bipolar-plates have advantages over non-porous graphite ones due to their higher mechanical strength and better electrical conductivity. However, corrosion resistance and interfacial contact resistance are major concerns that remain to be solved, since metals such as stainless steels may develop oxide layers that decrease electrical conductivity, thus lowering fuel cell efficiency. In this study, multi-layered nitride coatings consisting of Ti and TiN were deposited on 316L stainless steel (SS316L) by a D.C magnetron sputtering method to enhance the corrosion resistance and to lower the interfacial contact resistance (ICR) of metallic bipolarplates for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Electrochemical methods were conducted and ICRs of the coated specimens were measured to investigate the potential of the coated metallic bipolar-plate for use in PEMFCs. The multi-layered Ti/TiN coating deposited on SS316 showed lower ICR values than the single-layered TiN coating, and improved corrosion resistance when the PEMFC was not in operation while the degradation of the coating layer was observed in both cathodic and anodic working environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]