Abstract: The invention relates to a metal bipolar plate for a fuel cell, provided with a low-ohmic chemically stable coating. According to the invention, said coating is a multi-phase coating, at least in the region of the contacting outer surface thereof. One phase is a metal phase and/or ? phase belonging thereto and another phase is a compound phase consisting of one or several metals of the metal phase and one of the elements N,O,C,B.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal bipolar plate for a fuel cell, provided with a low-ohmic chemically stable coating. According to the invention, said coating is a multi-phase coating, at least in the region of the contacting outer surface thereof. One phase is a metal phase and/or &agr; phase belonging thereto and another phase is a compound phase consisting of one or several metals of the metal phase and one of the elements N,O,C,B.

Abstract: A method for reducing the electrical resistance caused by a corrosion oxide coating at the current-carrying transition of a chromium steel component includes annealing the chromium steel component a temperature of at least 950° C. and removing any oxide coating that develops during said annealing before the component carries current.

Abstract: The invention relates to corrosion proofing of current-carrying components of molten carbonate fuel cells. In particular, the invention relates to a current-carrying component for a molten carbonate fuel cell, particularly an anode current collector or bipolar plate, with a substrate made of stainless steel and with a corrosion proofing coating provided on the substrate to protect the component from the anode gas atmosphere and the molten electrolyte of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell is constructed of plural stacked individual cell units, that each respectively include a porous, electrolyte saturated matrix (3) sandwiched between a cathode (2) and an anode (4), and current collectors (5, 6) respectively arranged between the anode (4) and a first separator plate (7), and between the cathode (2) and a second separator plate (8). Especially the cathode current collector (6) includes a stainless steel core (16) that is coated on at least one surface with an aluminum-containing layer (14). Preferably both surfaces of the stainless steel core (16) are coated with aluminum-containing layers (14A, 14B), except for a contact area (12) at which the stainless steel core (16) directly contacts the cathode (2). The aluminum-containing layer (14) prevents or minimizes the occurrence of an oxidation reaction that would otherwise lead to significant loss of the electrolyte.