A method of forming a hydrophilic corrosion resistant stainless steel coating / low grade alloys for bipolar plates

摘要

A stainless steel flow field plate for a fuel cell comprises a layer of titanium or titanium oxide and a layer of titanium oxide / ruthenium oxide which renders the plate conductive and hydrophilic. In one embodiment, titanium is deposited on the surface of a stainless steel bipolar plate as a metal or oxide using a suitable process, such as PVD or CVD. A solution of ruthenium chloride in ethanol is brushed on the titanium layer. The plate is then calcined to provide a dimensionally stable titanium oxide / ruthenium oxide layer on the stainless steel that is hydrophilic and electrically conductive in the fuel cell environment.