Performance of the Iridium Oxide (IrO2) Modified Titanium Bipolar Plates for the Light Weight Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

In this current study, we are attempting to build up a light weight and corrosion resistant bipolar plate for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. A titanium bipolar plate substrate has been chosen as the base metal due to its low cost, simplicity to manufacture into stampable bipolar plates, and its light weight. Our goal is to obtain a smaller and lighter weight single fuel cell is to sinter titanium with a corrosion resistant material. Iridium oxide (IrO2) was investigated. The cell performance of the iridium oxidesintered bipolar plates is close to and even better than the proton exchange membrane fuel cells, with graphite and pure titanium bipolar plates at low operating temperature with low and high membrane humidifier temperatures, respectively. Iridium oxidesintered titanium bipolar plates can be employed to produce fuel cells with light weight and low sintering cost, ideal for portable applications.