Abstract
Nitridation of Cr-bearing alloys can yield low interfacial contact resistance (ICR), electrically conductive and corrosion-resistant CrN or Cr2N base surfaces of interest for a range of electrochemical devices, including fuel cells, batteries, and sensors. This paper presents results of exploratory studies of the nitridation of commercially available, high Cr (30-35 wt%) Ni-Cr alloys and a ferritic high Cr (29 wt%) stainless steel for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) bipolar plates. A high degree of corrosion resistance in sulfuric acid solutions designed to simulate bipolar plate conditions and low ICR values were achieved. Oxygen impurities in the nitriding environment were observed to play a significant role in the nitrided surface structures that formed, with detrimental effects for the Ni-Cr base alloys, but beneficial effects for the stainless steel alloy. Positive results from single-cell fuel cell testing are also presented.
Original language | American English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3778-3788 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 16 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2007 |
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/JA-560-42504
Keywords
- Bipolar plate
- Fuel cell
- Nitridation
- Nitride
- Oxidation