Open AccessCarbon composite coatings on Ti for corrosion protection as bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Author(s) -
Gao Pingping,
Xie Zhiyong,
Ouyng Chun,
Wu Xiaobo,
Lei Ting,
Liu Chunbo,
Huang Qizhong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2018.0076
Subject(s) - materials science , corrosion , coating , tin , composite material , composite number , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , amorphous carbon , amorphous solid , contact angle , chemical engineering , metallurgy , fuel cells , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
A highly corrosion resistant and conductive composite coating on Ti bipolar plates was prepared by the hydrothermal and impregnation method. The composite coating consisted of amorphous carbon immersed in suspension solution [polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 10 wt.% + TiN nanoparticles 3 g/l]. The surface of coating was completely smooth and nano‐holes on the surface of coatings were filled by PTFE and TiN particles. TiN particles were uniformly distributed in the coating when 0.1 mol/l of glucose was used as carbon source. The composite coating exhibited excellent conductivity and corrosion resistivity. It was revealed that corrosion current density, interfacial contact resistance, and contact angle were 0.009 µA/cm 2 , 13 mΩ cm 2 , and 115.53°, respectively. Meanwhile, it was shown that the corrosion current density of the coating was below 1 µA/cm 2 with a potentiostatic polarisation test (0.6 and −0.1 V). In summary, the Ti substrate with a carbon composite film immersed in suspension solution showed a great potential application in bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.