Plasma surface treatment for the composite bipolar plate of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Ha Na Yu, Jun Woo Lim, Jung Do Suh, Dai Gil Lee

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceedingChapter in a published conference proceeding

Abstract

A PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) stack is composed of a GDL (Gas Diffusion Layer), a MEA (Membrane Electrode Assemblies), and bipolar plates. The electrical resistance of bipolar plates for a PEMFC should be very low to conduct the electricity generated in fuel cells with minimum electrical loss. The resistance of the bipolar plate of a PEMFC consists of bulk material resistance and interfacial contact resistance. The interfacial contact resistance is much larger than the bulk resistance in the case of continuous carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite bipolar plates due to the resin rich area of the surface. In this study, the plasma surface treatment was developed in order to decrease the contact resistance between the GDL and carbon/epoxy composite bipolar plate by removing the resin rich area of composite surfaces. The total resistances in through thickness direction were measured and the SEM image of the surface was observed with respect to the plasma surface treatment conditions. Also tensile strengths of the developed composite bipolar plates were measured to assess the effect of plasma surface treatment on the composite strength.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication7th Asian-Australasian Conference on Composite Materials 2010, ACCM 2010
PublisherACCM-7 Organizing Committee
Pages304-307
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9781632660756
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010
Event7th Asian-Australasian Conference on Composite Materials 2010, ACCM 2010 - Taipei, Taiwan
Duration: 15 Nov 201018 Nov 2010

Publication series

Name7th Asian-Australasian Conference on Composite Materials 2010, ACCM 2010
Volume1

Conference

Conference7th Asian-Australasian Conference on Composite Materials 2010, ACCM 2010
Country/TerritoryTaiwan
CityTaipei
Period15/11/1018/11/10

Keywords

  • Carbon composite
  • Contact resistance
  • PEM fuel cells
  • Plasma treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

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