Feasibility study on carbon-felt-reinforced thermoplastic composite materials for PEMFC bipolar plates

In this study, carbon felt was used to fabricate bipolar plates for PEMFCs. In addition, a solution impregnation method and the double percolation effect on the electrical conduction were introduced to improve the impregnation state of the thermoplastic polymer and the electrical conductivity of the composite plates simultaneously. The area specific resistance, double percolation morphology, and impregnation state of the composite plates were analyzed using the four-point probe method, transmission electron microscopy analysis, and scanning electron microscopy analysis, respectively. The results of the experiments were compared with the United States Department of Energy's technical targets for bipolar plates.