Challenges and Perspectives of Metal‐Based Proton Exchange Membrane's Bipolar Plates: Exploring Durability and Longevity

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) generate electricity utilizing the energy of electrochemical reactions of fuel (H2) and oxidants (O2/air). As they emit no toxic gases during the process, they are considered as a clean energy source that can be beneficial and might replace the use of fossil fuels. To compose a FC stack, an essential component, bipolar plates (BPs), is needed. They have several roles to fulfill during PEMFC stack operation, and there are many challenges when it comes to BPs metal‐based materials and their sustainability, durability, and longevity. Finding suitable metal and alloy materials is a significant task as BP materials should have multiple qualities that sometimes come at the expense of one another. As BPs constitute a significant part of PEMFC stack by means of volume, weight, and costs, the pursuit of the most suitable and least expensive metal‐based materials is comprehensible. In this Review, different metal and alloy types (copper, nickel, titanium, and aluminum alloys) and their own particular challenges are discussed, emphasizing the most important family of materials candidates—stainless steels.

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs): Advances and Challenges

“…Finding suitable metal and alloy materials represents a significant task for BP materials, because they should have multiple qualities that sometimes come at the expense of one another. As BPs constitute a significant part of the PEMFC stack by means of volume, weight, and costs, the pursuit of the most suitable and least expensive metal and alloy materials, such as copper, nickel, titanium, and aluminum alloys, are proposed, emphasizing the most important family of material candidates—stainless steels [ 317 ]. Support materials are also of great interest in order to improve the activity and stability of the catalysts [ 318 ].…”

Novel Trends in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

“…Figure 9 shows the diagonal pressure values of the different structures used in the study with the optimized load values of the bolts. One of the major sources of uneven pressure distribution is a result of the end plates deflecting along the edges, which causes less clamping force in the middle region [146,147], as shown in Figure 10. Several researchers have proposed different designs to prevent this.…”

A novel hydrophilic‐modified gas diffusion layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells operating in low humidification

“…Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been treated as the most promising sources for the automotive engines and electrical vehicles because of their high energy conversion efficiency, high power density, low working temperature, and environmentally friendly 1‐3 . As the core technology of PEMFCs, water management has been confirmed to be significant not only for the performance but also for the durability 4 .…”