Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell, where a surface of the flow field plate is textured or roughened to change the surface morphology of the plate. A conductive coating is deposited on the roughened surface where the roughness of the surface of the plate increases the hydrophilic nature of the coating. Therefore, if the coating is naturally hydrophobic, the surface roughness makes the coating hydrophilic to wick water away. If the coating is a conductive hydrophilic coating, then the surface roughness makes the coating super-hydrophilic, and may counter the effects of surface contamination that would act to make the hydrophilic coating less hydrophilic.

Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a carbide coating that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. Suitable carbides include, but are not limited to, chromium carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, niobium carbide and zirconium carbide. The carbide coating is then polished or textured by a suitable process, such as laser or chemical etching, to provide a surface morphology that makes the coating more hydrophilic, and further reduces the contact resistance on its surface.

Abstract: A fuel cell component having a coating thereon including binary and ternary nitrides and oxynitrides of elements of IVb and Vb groups of the periodic table of elements.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a water blocking layer positioned between anode gas flow channels and a gas diffusion media. The blocking layer prevents water from propagating through the gas diffusion media layer and entering the anode flow channels, while allowing gas from the flow channels to flow through the diffusion media layer to the membrane. A water accumulation channel can be provided around the perimeter of the gas diffusion media layer where blocked water is accumulated, and allowed to expand during cell freezing. A porous capillary wick can be provided in the accumulation channel for wicking water to the inlet end of the flow channels where it is used to humidify the anode gas coming into the fuel cell. The wick can have a tapered configuration so that it has a larger diameter at the gas input end of the flow channels.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si—O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain.

Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell component using a mask, which is removed after further processing to yield a surface with variable properties.

Abstract: A process comprising: depositing a coating on a fuel cell bipolar plate using plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a metal oxide coating that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. Non-limiting examples of suitable doped coatings Ta doped TiO2, Nb doped TiO2 and F doped SnO2. In an alternate embodiment, the metal oxide is a non-stoichiometric metal oxide that includes oxygen vacancies in the lattice structure that provides the conductivity. Non-limiting examples of suitable non-stoichiometric metal oxides include TiO2?x and TiO2+y.

Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a combination of TiO2 and a conductive material that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. The TiO2 and the conductive material can be deposited on the plate as separate layers or can be combined as a single layer. Either the TiO2 layer or the conductive layer can be deposited first. In one embodiment, the conductive material is gold.

Abstract: A fuel cell electroconductive element, or bipolar plate, that includes a substrate with a cationic or anionic exchange resin coating deposited thereon, and a method for making the same. The bipolar plate has a fluid flow field formed therein. The ion-exchange polymer is preferably deposited on a region of the surface of the substrate by a process of dip coating or spraying. The resin coating is substantially hydrophobic in nature when dry and substantially hydrophilic when wet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell electrically conductive element with a polymeric surface comprising a flow field, at least a part of the flow field having a grafted, permanently hydrophilic, polymer coating. The element is made by applying a layer of a monomer mixture of a hydrophilic, ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and a crosslinking monomer to the electrically conductive element surface and polymerizing the applied monomer mixture layer with a plasma whereby the polymerized layer is grafted to the polymeric surface.

Abstract: A process including: providing a cylindrical substrate rotating about the long axis; applying at least one coating layer with a direct writing applicator on the outer surface of the rotating substrate; and curing the resulting coated layer or layers. The use of a direct writing applicator provides precision in the dispensing of organic photoconductor coating layers with respect to line width and line thickness.

Abstract: A flow field plate for a fuel cell that includes a metal oxide coating that makes the plate hydrophilic. In one embodiment, the metal oxide coating is a thin film to maintain the conductive properties of the flow field plate. The metal oxide can be combined with a conductive oxide. According to another embodiment, the metal oxide coating is deposited as islands on the flow field plate so that the flow field plate is exposed between the islands. According to another embodiment, lands between the flow channels are polished to remove the metal oxide layer and expose the flow field plate. According to another embodiment, the flow field plate is blasted with alumina so that embedded alumina particles and the roughened surface of the plate provide the hydrophilicity.

Abstract: A flow field plate for a fuel cell that includes an outer layer of a metal oxide or other material that makes the plate hydrophilic. The particular metal oxide and the thickness of the metal oxide layer are selected so that hydrofluoric acid generated by the fuel cell continuously etches away the layer at a predetermined rate so that a surface of the layer is free of contaminants over the entire life of the fuel cell. If the fuel cell does not employ a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane, then a separate hydrofluoric acid source can be provided that injects a low level solution of hydrofluoric acid into one or both of the reactant gas streams.

Abstract: A flow field plate for a fuel cell that has one or more outer layers that makes the plate more conductive and hydrophilic. In one embodiment, the coating is co-deposited as combination of a conductive material and a metal oxide coating. A suitable conductive material is gold and suitable metal oxides include SiO2, HfO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, SnO2, Ta2O5, Nb2O5, MoO2, IrO2, RuO2 and mixtures thereof. The conductive material and metal oxide can also be deposited as two separate layers, where the metal oxide is the outer layer. According to another embodiment, a metal layer is deposited on the plate with nanopores that provide the hydrophilicity. Also, doping ions can be added to the metal oxide to provide low fluoride solubility of the coating to control the rate that hydrofluoric acid etches away the oxide layer.

Abstract: An assembly for a fuel cell including an electrically conductive fluid distribution element including a flow field disposed on a surface of the element, wherein the flow field includes a plurality of channels for carrying the gaseous reactants of the fuel cell. The assembly also includes an electrically conductive member disposed at the surface of the element to serve as a gas diffusion media. The channels of the element include a plurality of sidewalls formed in various orientations, and the orientations of the side-walls form a cross-sectional geometry of the channel such that water collection regions are formed at an interface of the electrically conductive fluid distribution element and the electrically conductive member, and at a bottom portion of the channel.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell having an electrically conductive polymer coated on at least one region of a surface of the plate in contact with a flow field. The coated region is hydrophobic or hydrophilic as compared to an uncoated region of the surface to prevent liquid accumulation. Electroconductive polymer coatings are applied by electrochemical polymerization.

Abstract: A pressure fluctuation parameter (for example, a statistical indicator such as a root-mean-square value) from a set of differential pressure measurements between the inlet and the outlet of a fuel cell reactant flow channel carrying vaporized water is used to define flooding onset. Vaporized water in the flow of gas (air) through the flow channels is controlled in response to the parameter. Benefits include efficient operation (i.e., minimized stoichiometry) and effective management of rapid power transients in a fuel cell.

Abstract: An assembly for a fuel cell including an electrically conductive fluid distribution element including a flow field disposed on a surface of the element, wherein the flow field includes a plurality of channels for carrying the gaseous reactants of the fuel cell. The assembly also includes an electrically conductive member disposed at the surface of the element to serve as a gas diffusion media. The channels of the element include a plurality of sidewalls formed in various orientations, and the orientations of the side-walls form a cross-sectional geometry of the channel such that water collection regions are formed at an interface of the electrically conductive fluid distribution element and the electrically conductive member, and at a bottom portion of the channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising an ionically conductive member with a first surface and a second surface. An anode electrode is disposed on the first surface of the ionically conductive member and a cathode electrode is disposed on the second surface of the ionically conductive member. A first electrically conductive fluid distribution element is disposed on the anode and a second electrically conductive fluid distribution element is disposed on the cathode. The first and second electrically conductive fluid distribution elements each include a plurality of alternating lands and fluid passages. The anode and the cathode are comprised of a plurality of electrochemically active regions that are disposed to essentially align with the fluid passages.