Investigation of a Duplex Stainless Steel as Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Bipolar Plate Material

Abstract

Duplex 2205 stainless steel was investigated in a simulated polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) environment; stable passive films formed quickly under these conditions. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) values for 2205 steel with the air-formed film were identical to those for 349™ and lower than those for AISI446 steel. The ICR values for the passive film formed in a simulated PEMFC anode environment were lower than those for the passive film formed in the cathode environment, but both were higher than those for air-formed film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the passive films were mainly while the air-formed film was composed of Fe-oxides and An estimate of the thickness of the surface films was made. © 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.