Evaluation of a compression molded composite bipolar plate for direct methanol fuel cell

A polymer–graphite composite bipolar plate of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was fabricated by a compression molding method. The electrical conductivity and electrochemical behavior of the composite material under DMFC operating conditions were evaluated. The results show that the composite bipolar plate has a good electrical conductivity. Moreover, the through-plane conductivity of the composite material is higher than the in-plane one, which is ascribed to the anisotropic property of the composite bipolar plate resulted from the compression molding process. Corrosion tests show that the stable current density is below 10 μA cm−2 under both anode and cathode conditions of DMFC. The discharge test of the DMFC single cell also presents a satisfactory result.