TY - JOUR
T1 - The enhanced conductivity and corrosion resistance of hydrogen-free carbon-based nanocomposite coatings
AU - Wu, Xiaopan
AU - Ou, Yixiang
AU - Feng, Yi
AU - Chen, Hui
AU - Wang, Haoqi
AU - Li, Feiqiang
AU - Che, Zhiqiang
AU - Zhang, Yue
AU - Zong, Pengan
AU - Hou, Li
AU - Yuan, Wenping
AU - Jiang, Qili
AU - Ouyang, Xiaoping
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025
PY - 2025/7/15
Y1 - 2025/7/15
N2 - Synergistic optimization of conductivity and corrosion resistance in metallic bipolar plates (BPs) is crucial for improving the performance, reliability, and longevity of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems. In this study, three hydrogen-free carbon-based nanocomposite coatings (Cr, Ti)/(Cr, Ti)-C-N/C were deposited on AISI austenitic stainless steel (SS316L) BPs using pulsed DC magnetron sputtering. The Ti/TiCN/C coatings demonstrate superior performance, characterized by smooth, uniform, and dense microstructure comprising Ti adhesion layer, TiCN transition layer and top C layer. The Ti/TiCN/C coatings demonstrate the highest hardness (21.36 GPa), the largest H/E∗ (0.072) and H3/E∗2 (0.084) ratios, maximum coating-substrate adhesion (20.3 mN), and excellent corrosion resistance in acidic conditions (pH = 3, H2SO4 + 0.1 ppm HF, 80 °C). Enhanced performances stem from the microstructural uniformity, strong interfacial bonding, and the regulating effect of the intermediate transition layer on the top C layer. Additionally, the Ti/TiCN/C coatings achieve the lowest interfacial contact resistance value of 2.4 mΩ·cm2, which is attributed to the maximum content and degree of disorder of C sp2, and the highest sp2/sp3 ratio in the top C layer. These results highlight Ti/TiCN/C coatings as a cost-effective, durable solution for high-performance PEMFC BPs, thereby offering a foundation for industrial-scale applications.
AB - Synergistic optimization of conductivity and corrosion resistance in metallic bipolar plates (BPs) is crucial for improving the performance, reliability, and longevity of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems. In this study, three hydrogen-free carbon-based nanocomposite coatings (Cr, Ti)/(Cr, Ti)-C-N/C were deposited on AISI austenitic stainless steel (SS316L) BPs using pulsed DC magnetron sputtering. The Ti/TiCN/C coatings demonstrate superior performance, characterized by smooth, uniform, and dense microstructure comprising Ti adhesion layer, TiCN transition layer and top C layer. The Ti/TiCN/C coatings demonstrate the highest hardness (21.36 GPa), the largest H/E∗ (0.072) and H3/E∗2 (0.084) ratios, maximum coating-substrate adhesion (20.3 mN), and excellent corrosion resistance in acidic conditions (pH = 3, H2SO4 + 0.1 ppm HF, 80 °C). Enhanced performances stem from the microstructural uniformity, strong interfacial bonding, and the regulating effect of the intermediate transition layer on the top C layer. Additionally, the Ti/TiCN/C coatings achieve the lowest interfacial contact resistance value of 2.4 mΩ·cm2, which is attributed to the maximum content and degree of disorder of C sp2, and the highest sp2/sp3 ratio in the top C layer. These results highlight Ti/TiCN/C coatings as a cost-effective, durable solution for high-performance PEMFC BPs, thereby offering a foundation for industrial-scale applications.
KW - Adhesion
KW - Conductivity
KW - Corrosion resistance
KW - Hydrogen-free carbon-based nanocomposite coatings
KW - Ti/TiCN/C coatings
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003293290
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.237124
DO - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.237124
M3 - 文章
AN - SCOPUS:105003293290
SN - 0378-7753
VL - 644
JO - Journal of Power Sources
JF - Journal of Power Sources
M1 - 237124
ER -
