Research of Protective Coatings on Titanium Bipolar Plates of Hydrogen Fuel Cells with Solid Polymer Electrolyte

The paper considers the various types of bipolar elements and materials which are used for their manufacture in fuel cell technology. They play an important role in switching individual fuel cells in a battery, and make up the largest fraction of its mass (up to 80%), which affects the specific mass power characteristics of the power system. Bipolar cells based on thin titanium foil and a corrugated duct have high mechanical strength with minimum weight, are important elements of a fuel cell battery, and their use can significantly improve the mass specific characteristics of a power system based on fuel cells with a solid polymer electrolyte and direct air supply. Protective coatings should provide low-resistance contact when switching individual fuel cells and prevent its change during prolonged operation of the fuel cell. Coating in a magnetron setup allows preliminary coatings on large surfaces to produce thin coatings with reproducible composition and properties. For research, we have used graphite and platinum targets, as well as composite graphite targets with platinum inserts in the spray zone. Using generally accepted procedures, we have studied the influence of the composition and conditions of applying composite coatings on the corrosion resistance and surface contact resistance of bipolar elements. The use of a graphite target and segments made of platinum is shown to allow obtaining protective coatings close to the requirements of technical targets for coatings in terms of corrosion resistance and surface contact resistance. Such titanium coatings have better conductive and protective properties than thin-film coatings based on platinum and thin films of gold. The production of protective coatings based on titanium carbides have a high surface resistance, and based on titanium nitride – lower protective properties. Thus, magnetron technology can be recommended as industrial for the production of bipolar elements.

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