Bipolar plate durability

Mepsted, G. O., and J. M. Moore. 2003. Performance and durability of bipolar plate materials. In Handbook of fuel cells—Fundamentals, technologies, and applications, ed. W. Vielstich, H. A. Gasteiger, and A. Lamm. Vol. 3 Fuel cell technologies and applications, 286-293 (chap. 24). New York John Wiley Sons. 

The committee believes that PEM electrolysis is subject to the same basic cost reduction drivers as those for fuel cells. Cost breakthroughs in (1) catalyst formulation and loading, (2) bipolar plate/flow field, (3) membrane expense and durability, (4) volume manufacturing of subsystems and modules by third parties, (5) overall design simplifications, and (6) scale economies (within limits) all promise to lower... 

The reliability/durability of these fuel cells is another major barrier hindering commercialization. Developing durable catalysts, membranes, gas diffusion layers, and bipolar plates are currently the major areas of concentration in the search for technical breakthroughs. 

Yang, S.G. et al.. Solid oxide fuel cells materials for the bipolar plates are under development to reduce costs while maintaining performance and durability, Adv. Mater. 

Mepsted, G.O. and Moore, J.M., Performance and durability of bipolar plate materials, in Handbook of Fuel Cells Fundamentals, Technology, and Applications, 1st ed., Vielstich, W., Lamm, A., and Gasteiger, H.A., Eds., John Wiley Sons, West Sussex, England, 2003, p. 286. 

Mepsted, G., Moore, J. (2003). Performance and durability of bipolar plate. In "Handbook of Fuel Cells - Fundamentals, Technology and Applications", Vol. 3... 

B. N. (2010) High-durability titanium bipolar plate modified by electrochemical deposition of platinum for unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC)./. Power Sources, 195, 1950-1956. 

Kinumoto, T., Nagano, K., Tsumura, T., and Toyoda, M. (2010) Thermal and electrochemical durability of carbonaceous composites used as a bipolar plate of proton exchange membrane fuel cell. 

From a materials durability point of view, carbon/polymer composite materials are to be preferred. However, metal-based bipolar plates enable the use of very thin plates, thus leading to an increase in volumetric power density. Major car manufacturers such as Honda and Toyota are using metal-based bipolar plates in... 

In this section, operating conditions and modes that contribute to voltage decay or limit performance will be discussed. In section Materials Degradation and the Relation to Performance Loss and Shortening the PEMFC Lifetime, the durability issues related to the different components of the fuel ceU, that is, catalyst, the gas diffusion layers, membranes, bipolar plates, and seals will be presented in more detail. 

Mepsted GO, Moore JM (2003) Performance and durability of bipolar plate materials. In Vielstich W, Gasteiger HA, Lamm A (eds) Handbook of fuel cells-fundamentals, technology and applications, vol 3. John Wiley Sons, Chichester, pp 286-293... 

Direct hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered vehicles have reached a level of development where the major automotive companies have publicly announced that initiation of commercialization is imminent around 2015. The targets of performance, durability, and cost agreed upon by various organizations, including the US DOE, appear to be achievable in the specified time frame. Well-delineated pathways and strategies have been established to address the barriers of cost and durability of PEMFC stacks and achieve the automotive targets. The principal directions for reduction of cost and enhancement of durability of key fuel cell components, i.e., electrocatalysts, membranes, and bipolar plates are briefly summarized in this section. 

Trends in short- and lOTiger-term directions for key fuel cell components including electrocatalysts/supports, membranes, and bipolar plates have been elaborated in this section improvement of the performance and durability of these components will directly impact the entire automotive fuel cell system requirements, complexity, and cost. Durable catalysts with enhanced ORR activity, durable membranes that perform at very low humidity and durable bipolar plates that have low contact resistance will not only increase the power density and cost of the fuel cell stack but also simplify and lower/eliminate system component costs of the air compressor, humidification systems, recycle pumps, radiator, start-up/shutdown and freeze-start-related components, etc. A combination of advances in all the fuel cell components discussed above, system simplification, governmental policies that are sensitive to sustainable clean energy, and development of a hydrogen infrastructure will enable achieving the projected technical and cost targets needed for automotive fuel cell commercialization. 

Stack Components In collaboration with partners, research and develop technologies to overcome the most critical technical hurdles for polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack components for both stationary and transportation applications. Critical technical hurdles include cost, durability, efficiency, and overall performance of components such as the proton exchange membranes, oxygen reduction electrodes, advanced catalysts, bipolar plates, etc. 

Table 2.3 shows the characteristics of the different constituent parts in a PEM electrolyzer the electrodes, the membrane and the bipolar plates. The PEM electrolyzer draws on all the significant developments to do with PEM fuel cell technology over the past 20 years, although the differences in terms of materials are fairly marked as regards the potentials of the positive electrode (anode) which are far higher than in fuel cell operatiom For instance, carbon is not very durable as a support material for the anode for this reason, it is essential to use a material such as titanium, which has the drawback of being very expensive and tending to become passive rather quickly. 

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