The effects of molybdenum and reduced graphene oxide on corrosion resistance of amorphous nickel–phosphorus as bipolar plates in PEMFC environment

• Molybdenum in amorphous Ni–P improved corrosion resistance in PEMFC environment.
• RGO in amorphous Ni–P improved corrosion resistance in PEMFC environment.
• RGO in amorphous Ni–P decreased cation vacancies in the passive film.

The effects of reduced graphene oxide and molybdenum in amorphous nickel–phosphorus as bipolar plates on corrosion resistance in proton exchange membrane fuel cell environment were investigated. The amorphous nickel–phosphorus, amorphous nickel–phosphorus with molybdenum and amorphous nickel–phosphorus with reduced graphene oxide were obtained by the electrodeposition technique from a nickel sulfate bath. The electrochemical studies showed that the molybdenum in amorphous nickel–phosphorus improved corrosion resistance in typical proton exchange membrane fuel cell environment. In addition, the amorphous nickel–phosphorus with reduced graphene oxide exhibited the best corrosion resistance in typical proton exchange membrane fuel cell environment. The synergistic combination of amorphous nickel–phosphorus and reduced graphene oxide could improve corrosion resistance, which was supported further by Mott–Schottky analysis.