Performance of a 1 kW-class PEMFC stack using TiN-coated 316 stainless steel bipolar plates

To develop corrosion-resistant and low-cost metallic bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), AISI 316 stainless steel was coated with TiN and the coated bipolar plates were applied to cell fabrication, in comparison with graphite and bare 316 bipolar plates. Initial performance of the single cells using graphite, AISI 316, and TiN/316 bipolar plates was 996, 796, and 896 mA cm−2, respectively, at a cell voltage of 0.6 V. By coating 316 stainless steel with corrosion-protective TiN layer, lifetime was also significantly improved. A 1 kW class short stack was manufactured using TiN-coated bipolar plates and operated for 1028 h.