• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.171-178
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• 2013

In a polymer membrane fuel cell stack, the bipolar plate is a key element because it accounts for over 50% of total costs of the stack. In order to lower the cost of bipolar plates, 316L stainless steels coated with nitrides such as TiN and CrN by physical vapor deposition were investigated as alternative materials for the replacement of traditional brittle graphite bipolar-plates. For this purpose, interfacial contact resistances were measured and electrochemical corrosion tests were conducted. The results showed that although both TiN and CrN coatings decreased the interfacial contact resistances to less than $10m{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$, they did not significantly improve the corrosion resistance in simulated polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell environments. A CrN coating on 316L stainless steel showed better corrosion resistance than a TiN coating did, indicating the possibility of using modified CrN coated metallic bipolar plates to replace graphite bipolar plates.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.73.1-73.1
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• 2010

For the successful cold starting of a fuel cell engine, either internal of external heat supply must be made to overcome the formation of ice from water below the freezing point of water. In the present study, switchable vanadium oxide compounds as variable temperature-electrical resistance materials onto the surface of flat metallic bipolar plates have been prepared by a dip-coating technique via an aqueous sol-gel method. Subsequently, the chemical composition and micro-structure of the polycrystalline solid thin films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. In addition, it was carefully measured electrical resistance hysteresis loop over a temperature range from $-20^{\circ}C$ to $80^{\circ}C$ using the four-point probe method. The experimental results revealed that the thin films was mainly composed of Karelianite $V_2O_3$ which acts as negative temperature coefficient materials. Also, it was found that thermal dissipation rate of the vanadium oxide thin films partially satisfy about 50% saving of the substantial amount of energy required for ice melting at $-20^{\circ}C$. Moreover, electrical resistances of the vanadium-based materials converge on an extremely small value similar to that of pure flat metallic bipolar plates at higher temperature, i.e. $T{\geq}40^{\circ}C$. As a consequence, experimental studies proved that it is possible to apply the variable temperature-electrical resistance material based on vanadium oxides for the cold starting enhancement of a fuel cell vehicle and minimize parasitic power loss and eliminate any necessity for external equipment for heat supply in freezing conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.278-281
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• 2009

The performance of aluminum bipolar plates was evaluated for the lightweight fuel cell system as a power source for a small reconnaissance UAV. Higher performance per weight was obtained from aluminum bipolar plates than the graphite bipolar plates. To check the influence of operating temperature, the performance of a single cell using aluminum bipolar plates was evaluated at 40 / 50 / $60^{\circ}C$. When dry hydrogen and air were used, the finest performance was obtained at $40^{\circ}C$, a lower operating temperature compared with usual operating temperatures.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.7-7
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• 2004

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.409-414
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• 2011

To promote the industry of PEMFC, the commercialization of its parts especially bipolar plate is needed. The bipolar plate is one of key parts for PEMFC, which occupies cost portion of 5~8% in the system. To replace the bipolar plate of machined graphite highly costly, the stamped thin matal or the molded carbon composite has been developed. According to the merits and demerits of each material and its forming process, the stamped metallic plate has been considered to the bipolar plate of PEMFC for automotive, and on the other hand, the molded composite plate has been considered to one for building applications. Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. has developed the carbon composite material and the manufacturing process for the bipolar plates. The developed bipolar plates were proved to be fully applicable to PEMFC of building applications in characteristics and performance, and so government strategic project to develop the mass-production technology for bipolar plates was started and is being conducted by the company. Through the government project for obtaining both the commercialization technology and production capacity for the bipolar plates, the price and the performance of domestic PEMFCs are expected to become competitive in international market.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.92-107
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• 2016

Graphene was coated on austenitic and martensitic stainless steels to simulate the metallic bipolar plate of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and was reduced to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via a hydrazine process. rGO was confirmed by FE-SEM, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the bipolar plate and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) was measured to confirm the electrical conductivity. Both ICR and corrosion current density decreased on graphene coated stainless steels. Corrosion resistance was also improved with immersion time in cathodic environments and satisfied the criteria of the Department of Energy (DOE), USA. The total concentrations of metal ions dissolved from graphene coated stainless steels were reduced. Furthermore hydrophobicity was improved by increasing the contact angle.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2008

Stainless steels have been widely considered as metallic bipolar plates, due to their passive surface film, which is good for corrosion resistance. However, the high resistivity of the passive film increases interfacial contact resistance between the bipolar plates and the electrodes. Stainless steels thermal spray coated with a mixture of tungsten carbide and stainless steel powders showed that the coated layer safely combined with the matrix but they suffered many internal defects including voids and cracks. Many cracks were formed in the coated layer and the interface of the matrix and the coated layer during the rolling process. The coated and rolled stainless steels showed lower interfacial contact resistance and corrosion resistance than bare stainless steel because of low resistivity of tungsten carbide and numerous defects, which caused crevice corrosion, in the coated layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.306-306
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• 2012

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.347-360
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• 2021

Currently, the demand for eco-friendly energy sources is high, which has prompted research on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Both aluminum alloys and nickel alloys, which are commonly considered as materials of bipolar plates in fuel cells, oxide layers formed on the metal surface have excellent corrosion resistance. In this research, the electrochemical characteristics of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 were investigated with chloride concentrations in an acid environment that simulated the cathode condition of the PEMFC. After potentiodynamic polarization experiments, Tafel analysis and surface analysis were performed. Inconel 600 presented remarkably good corrosion resistance under all test conditions. The corrosion current density of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy was significantly higher than that of Inconel 600 under all test conditions. Also, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 presented uniform corrosion and intergranular corrosion, respectively. The Ni, Cr, and Fe, which are the main chemical compositions of Inconel 600, are higher than Al in the electromotive force series. And a double oxide film of NiO-Cr₂O₃, which is more stable than Al₂O₃, is formed. Thus, the corrosion resistance of Inconel 600 is better.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.499-505
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• 2012

The fuel cell is a very promising power generation system combining the benefits of extremely low emissions, high efficiency, ease of maintenance and durability. In order to promote the commercialization of fuel cells, a flexible forming process, in which a hyper-elastic rubber is adopted as a medium to transmit forming pressure, is suggested as an efficient and cost effective manufacturing method for fuel cell bipolar plates. In this study, the ability of this flexible forming process to produce the micro channel arrays on metallic bipolar plates was first demonstrated experimentally. Then, a finite element (FE) model was built and validated through comparisons between simulated and experimental results. The effects of key process parameters on the forming performance such as applied load and punch velocity were investigated. As a result, appropriate process parameter values allowing high dimensional accuracy without failure were suggested.