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| Progress and Perspectives on Metallic Bipolar Plates in Fuel Cells |
LUO Haiwen( ), LIN Xiong, LIU Gaoyang, HU Bin( ) |
| School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China |
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Cite this article:
LUO Haiwen, LIN Xiong, LIU Gaoyang, HU Bin. Progress and Perspectives on Metallic Bipolar Plates in Fuel Cells. Acta Metall Sin, 2026, 62(2): 263-274.
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Abstract With the advancement of the global carbon neutrality strategy, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), a typical type of low-temperature fuel cell, have been widely applied in transportation power systems, portable power equipment, and distributed energy systems because of their notable technical advantages, including high energy conversion efficiency (> 60%), low operating temperatures (60-80 oC), and near-zero carbon dioxide emissions. As a key fuel cell component, the bipolar plate serves several essential functions, including gas distribution, electron conduction, and management of reactant flow fields. The corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of bipolar plates directly determine overall fuel cell performance, including energy conversion efficiency, durability, and manufacturing cost. Therefore, bipolar plates with high corrosion resistance and high conductivity for PEMFCs have recently been the focus of intensive research. This study reviews various metallic bipolar plates, their surface modification strategies, and the resulting performance, including Al/Ti alloys and austenitic/ferritic stainless steels. Both Al and Ti alloys require noble metal coatings, such as Au/Ni-P and CrN, to balance corrosion resistance and conductivity, leading to high costs and complex fabrication processes that hinder commercialization. Although the corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels can be enhanced through synergistic Cr/Mo alloying, the rapid thickening of the passivation layer leads to excessively high interfacial contact resistance during service. In contrast, ferritic stainless steels are prone to intergranular corrosion; however, this can be mitigated through ultralow carbon content and stabilization by Ti/Nb microalloying. Their application in bipolar plates remains constrained because of poor formability and corrosion current densities in the uncoated state that often exceed the target values set by the United States Department of Energy. Although surface coating technologies, such as CrN and conductive polymers, can improve corrosion resistance and conductivity, process complexity and coating durability remain major concerns. Furthermore, this paper introduces a novel alloying strategy for high-Cr ferritic stainless steels used as coating-free bipolar plates, which simultaneously achieves excellent ductility, high corrosion resistance, and high electrical conductivity under simulated PEMFC conditions. Finally, future development directions for PEMFC bipolar plate materials are discussed.
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Received: 27 May 2025
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| Fund: China Baowu Low Carbon Metallurgy Innovation Foundation(BWLCF202213) |
Corresponding Authors:
LUO Haiwen, professor, Tel: (010)62332911, E-mail: luohaiwen@ustb.edu.cn; HU Bin, associate professor, Tel: (010)62332911, E-mail: hubin@ustb.edu.cn
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