An Investigation of Commercial Grade 2 Titanium As A Bipolar Plate Material for PEM Fuel Cells

摘要

Bipolar plates are one of the most important components in PEM fuel cell stacks. Currently, the commercial bipolar plates are made of non-porous graphite because of its chemical and thermal stability. However, they account for about 80% of the total weight and 45% of stack cost. In this study, commercial grade 2 titanium has been investigated as a possible bipolar plate material because its excellent corrosion resistance and relatively low density. Potentiodynamic, potentiostatic tests and EIS measurements were done to investigate the corrosion resistance in the simulated anode and cathode environments of a PEM fuel cell. SEM metallography was conducted to determine the corrosion morphology. ICP-OES tests were done to determine the metal ion concentrations in solution after corrosion. The Ti ion concentration in solution would be about 20ppm after 5000 hour operation at both the anode and the cathode.