Corrosion and conductivity properties of Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ coating on carbon steel as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interfacial conductivity and corrosion resistance of the Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ composite coating that is deposited on a carbon steel substrate as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

Design/methodology/approach

The Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ coating was prepared by electroless plating. Scanning electron microscopy, white light interference, energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction were used, respectively, to study the surface morphology, chemical composition and phase composition of coated samples. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization were used to test the electrochemical performance and corrosion behavior. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) was measured via the standard method.

Findings

The surface of the Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ coating is complete and dense and without obvious defects. The electrochemical test results show that the Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ coating provides better corrosion resistance than the Ni–P coating and substrate. Compared with the Ni–P coating, the ICR of the Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ coating is lower by about 82.7%. This is because the coating has more conductive contact points. The more exciting thing is that the ICR of the Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ coating only increases to 12.38 mΩ·cm² after 5 h of polarization.

Originality/value

This paper provides a method for achieving surface modification of metal bipolar plates. Introducing Ti₄O₇ particles in the Ni–P layer reduces the contact resistance before and after polarization while ensuring good corrosion resistance.

Citation

Yu, H., Guo, Q., Du, K., Li, D., Wang, C. and Wang, Y. (2022), "Corrosion and conductivity properties of Ni–P/Ti₄O₇ coating on carbon steel as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 69 No. 5, pp. 490-498. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-03-2022-2635