Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel Cells
316 L stainless steel is an ideal bipolar plate material for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). However, the thickening of the passivation film on the stainless steel surface and the dissolution of corrosive ions during operation will affect the durability of the PEMFC. Herein, a heteroge...
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2024-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/4/779 |
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| author | Ruijuan Wang Li Ding Yong Pan Xin Zhang Meng Yang Chengfei Zhu |
| author_facet | Ruijuan Wang Li Ding Yong Pan Xin Zhang Meng Yang Chengfei Zhu |
| author_sort | Ruijuan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 316 L stainless steel is an ideal bipolar plate material for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). However, the thickening of the passivation film on the stainless steel surface and the dissolution of corrosive ions during operation will affect the durability of the PEMFC. Herein, a heterogeneous layer is prepared on the surface of 316 L stainless steel through dual ion implantation of molybdenum ion and carbon ion combined with heat treatment to promote the corrosion resistance and conductivity of the bipolar plate. The ion implantation technique resulted in a uniform distribution of Mo and C elements on the surface of 316 L stainless steel, with a modified layer depth of about 70–80 nm. The electrical conductivity of the ion implanted samples was significantly improved, and the interfacial contact resistance was reduced from 464.25 mΩ × cm<sup>2</sup> to 42.49 mΩ × cm<sup>2</sup>. Heat treatment enhances the surface homogenization, repairs the defects of irradiation damage, and improves the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. The corrosion current density of (Mo+C)-600 samples decreased from 1.21 × 10<sup>−8</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> to 2.95 × 10<sup>−9</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> under the long-term corrosion condition of 4 h. These results can provide guidance for the modification of stainless steel bipolar plates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:24:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d145fed22f9640789ff1c550991da42f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:24:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d145fed22f9640789ff1c550991da42f2024-02-23T15:25:21ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442024-02-0117477910.3390/ma17040779Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel CellsRuijuan Wang0Li Ding1Yong Pan2Xin Zhang3Meng Yang4Chengfei Zhu5College of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaSchool of Automotive & Rail Transit, Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211167, ChinaCollege of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaCollege of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China316 L stainless steel is an ideal bipolar plate material for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). However, the thickening of the passivation film on the stainless steel surface and the dissolution of corrosive ions during operation will affect the durability of the PEMFC. Herein, a heterogeneous layer is prepared on the surface of 316 L stainless steel through dual ion implantation of molybdenum ion and carbon ion combined with heat treatment to promote the corrosion resistance and conductivity of the bipolar plate. The ion implantation technique resulted in a uniform distribution of Mo and C elements on the surface of 316 L stainless steel, with a modified layer depth of about 70–80 nm. The electrical conductivity of the ion implanted samples was significantly improved, and the interfacial contact resistance was reduced from 464.25 mΩ × cm<sup>2</sup> to 42.49 mΩ × cm<sup>2</sup>. Heat treatment enhances the surface homogenization, repairs the defects of irradiation damage, and improves the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. The corrosion current density of (Mo+C)-600 samples decreased from 1.21 × 10<sup>−8</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> to 2.95 × 10<sup>−9</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> under the long-term corrosion condition of 4 h. These results can provide guidance for the modification of stainless steel bipolar plates.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/4/779316 L stainless steel bipolar plateion implantationheat treatmentinterfacial contact resistancecorrosion resistance |
| spellingShingle | Ruijuan Wang Li Ding Yong Pan Xin Zhang Meng Yang Chengfei Zhu Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel Cells Materials 316 L stainless steel bipolar plate ion implantation heat treatment interfacial contact resistance corrosion resistance |
| title | Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel Cells |
| title_full | Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel Cells |
| title_fullStr | Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel Cells |
| title_short | Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Hydrogen Fuel Cells |
| title_sort | ion implantation combined with heat treatment enables excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance of stainless steel bipolar plates for hydrogen fuel cells |
| topic | 316 L stainless steel bipolar plate ion implantation heat treatment interfacial contact resistance corrosion resistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/4/779 |
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