The electrical and corrosion properties of carbon nanotube coated 304 stainless steel/polymer composite as PEM fuel cell bipolar plates

In this study, the contact resistance and corrosion resistance of three different types of plates used as PEM fuel cell bipolar plates are investigated, viz. (1) 304 stainless steel without carbon nanotube treatment that was then sandwiched between polymer composites, (2) CNT particles placed on the surface of the 304 stainless steel that was then sandwiched between polymer composites, and (3) direct CNTs coated 304 stainless steel that was then sandwiched between polymer composites. Both treated and untreated 304 stainless steel covered with the polymer composites exhibited good corrosion resistance. The results showed that the highest improvement of the contact resistance was accomplished by the direct deposition of CNTs on the 304 stainless steel insert. The results of the potentiodynamic and potentiostatic measurements also showed that direct CNTs deposition on the 304 stainless steel insert did not degrade the corrosion performance under PEM fuel cell operating conditions.