• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.817-822
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• 2008

Metal matrix composite (MMC) materials having low electrical contact resistance based on 316L stainless steel (STS) matrix alloy with $ZrB_2$ particles were fabricated for PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) separator by powder metallurgy (PM). The effects of the boride particle addition into the matrix alloy on microstructure, surface morphology, and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the samples and gas diffusion layer (GDL) were investigated. Both conventional and PM 316L STS samples showed high ICR due to the existence of non-conductive passive film on the alloy surface. The addition of the boride particles, however, remarkably reduced ICR of the samples. SEM observation revealed that the boride particles were protruded out of the matrix surface and particle density existing on the surface increased with increasing the boride content, causing increase of the total contact area between the conductive particles and GDL. ICR of the samples also decreased with increasing the boride content resulted from the increased contact area.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.224-232
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• 2014

Effect of pretreatments on the graphene coated bipolar plate of proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) was investigated in simulated environments for PEMFC by using electrochemical measurement techniques. Interfacial contact resistance(ICR) between the graphene coated bipolar plate and the gas diffusion layer(GDL) was measured. The value of ICR decreased with an increase in compaction stress($20N/cm^2{\sim}220N/cm^2$). ICR of graphene coated bipolar plate was higher than that of bare 316L stainless steel. However, Potentiodynamic measurement results showed that the corrosion resistance of graphene coated bipolar plate was higher than that of bare 316L stainless steel. $H_2SO_4$ acid pretreatment was the most effective among various pretreatments. The lowest ICR and the corrosion current density were obtained when using $H_2SO_4$ solution pretreatment.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.129-136
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• 2010

The corrosion behaviors of 316L stainless steel were investigated in simulated anodic and cathodic environments for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) by using electrochemical measurement techniques. Interfacial contact resistance(ICR) between the stainless steel and gas diffusion layer(GDL) was also measured. The possibility of 316L was evaluated as a substitute material for the graphite bipolar plate of PEMFC. The value of ICR decreased with an increase in compaction stress(20 N/$cm^2$~220 N/$cm^2$) showing the higher values than the required value in PEMFC condition. Although 316L was spontaneously passivated in simulated cathodic environment, its passive state was unstable in simulated anodic environment. Potentiostatic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement results showed that the corrosion resistance in cathodic condition was higher and more stable than that in anodic condition. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and inductively coupled plasma(ICP) were used to analyze the surface morphology and the metal ion concentration in electrolytes.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.92-107
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• 2016

Graphene was coated on austenitic and martensitic stainless steels to simulate the metallic bipolar plate of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and was reduced to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via a hydrazine process. rGO was confirmed by FE-SEM, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the bipolar plate and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) was measured to confirm the electrical conductivity. Both ICR and corrosion current density decreased on graphene coated stainless steels. Corrosion resistance was also improved with immersion time in cathodic environments and satisfied the criteria of the Department of Energy (DOE), USA. The total concentrations of metal ions dissolved from graphene coated stainless steels were reduced. Furthermore hydrophobicity was improved by increasing the contact angle.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.220.1-220.1
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• 2014

본 연구에서는 PECVD 공법 중에 이온화 에너지가 높은 선형이온빔 소스를 이용하여 고온에서 전도성 카본박막을 코팅하였다. 카본 박막 코팅을 위한 Precursor는 $C_2H_2$ gas를 이용하였으며, 온도에 따른 카본 박막의 전기적 특성 및 두께에 따른 카본 박막 성장 구조를 분석하였다. 카본 박막의 전기적 특성은 Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) 방법으로 측정하였으며, 접촉 저항 측정을 위한 모재는 SUS316L stainless steel을 사용하였고 카본 박막 성장 구조 분석을 위해서는 폴리싱된 Si-wafer를 사용하였다. 선형이온빔 소스를 이용하여 상온에서 증착한 카본 코팅의 접촉저항 값은 50 nm 코팅 두께에서 $660m{\Omega}cm^2@10kgf/cm^2$으로 비정질상의 특성을 나타냈으며, 고온에서는 $14.8m{\Omega}cm^2@10kgf/cm^2$으로 온도가 증가함에 따라 비정질상의 카본 박막이 전도성을 가지는 카본박막으로의 성장을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 전도성 카본 박막의 성장 구조 분석은 FE-SEM 및 Raman spectrum 분석을 통해 확인하였으며, 그 결과 코팅 두께가 증가할수록 카본 입자들은 수nm에서 약 150 nm의 카본 cluster를 형성하며 성장하였다. 이때 전도성 카본 박막의 두께에 따른 접촉저항의 값은 고온 조건에서 카본 박막의 두께가 약 100 nm일 때, $12.1m{\Omega}cm^2@10kgf/cm^2$의 가장 낮은 값을 가졌다. 위의 결과를 경제성이 아주 우수한 대면적 전도성 나노 카본 박막의 상용화 가능성이 높아질 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.192-196
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• 2013

Stainless steels (AISI 316L) are carburized by Inductively coupled plasma using $CH_4$ and Ar gas. The ${\gamma}_c$ phase(S-phase) is formed on the surface of stainless steel after carburizing process. The XRD peak of carburized samples is shifted to lower diffracting angle due to lattice expansion. Overall, the thickness of ${\gamma}_c$ phase showed a linear dependence with respect to increasing temperature due to the faster rate of diffusion of carbon. However, at temperatures above 500, the thickness data deviated from the linear trend. It is expected that the deviation was caused from atomic diffusion as well as other reactions that occurred at high temperatures. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) and corrosion resistance are measured in a simulated proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) environment. The ICR value of the carburized samples decreased from 130 $m{\Omega}cm^2$ (AISI 316L) to about 20 $m{\Omega}cm^2$. The sample carburized at 200 showed the best corrosion current density (6 ${\mu}Acm^{-2}$).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1177-1182
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• 2012

The corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel coated with NiO-YSZ (Ni added yttria stabilized zirconia) was examined in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) environment. The NiO-YSZ coating was carried out using a sol-gel dip coating method, and the corrosion resistance and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) were determined by the composition and morphology of the NiO-YSZ film. The corrosion resistance increased with increasing Ni content in the NiO-YSZ film, but rapid corrosion was observed when the YSZ film contained more than 15 wt % Ni due to surface cracks. The polarization resistance was improved by several orders of magnitude when 316L stainless steel was coated with a 15 wt % NiO-YSZ film compared to bare 316L. The ICR of the NiO-YSZ film was decreased to that of bare 316L when the YSZ film contained 25 wt % NiO, suggesting the possible application of NiO-YSZ coated stainless steel for a bipolar plate.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2009

The effect of physico-electrochemical properties of carbon bipolar plate(BPP) on hydrogen and formic acid fuel cell performance has been investigated. BPP made of conventional graphite and carbon fiber composite were compared with the factors of interfacial contact resistance (ICR), corrosion behaviours, and hydrophobicity. Among them, the ICR of carbon fiber composite BPP has 50% higher than conventional graphite and the surface of carbon fiber composite BPP became rougher due to weaker corrosion resistance. Fuel cell performance was strongly dependent of ICR value of carbon bipolar plate.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.87-92
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• 2015

Carbon thin films were deposited on STS 316L sheets by inductively coupled plasma enhanced magnetron sputtering with or without substrate bias voltage. Typical Raman spectrum for amorphous diamond-like carbon (DLC) was obtained, and the interfacial contact resistance (ICR) was measured to show its conductive nature. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to investigate the corrosion mechanism of the carbon coating under the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) condition. According to the pore-corrosion mechanism, the electrolyte penetrates the carbon coating through the pores and reacts with the substrate. As the substrate corrosion proceeds, the pore enlargement occurs and the surface area of the substrate exposed to the electrolyte. Applicability of the carbon coating for the PEMFC bipolar plate was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization experiments. Finally, an adhesion problem was briefly considered.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.55.2-55.2
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• 2009

A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell has been getting large interest as a typical issue in useful applications. The PEMFC is composed of a membrane, catalyst and the bipolar plate. SnOx:F films on SUS316 stainless steel were prepared as a function of substrate with using electron cyclotron resonance-metal organic chemical vapor deposition (ECR-MOCVD) in order to achieve the corrosion-resistant and low contact resistance bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells. The SnOx:F films coated on SUS316 substrate at surface plasma treatment for excellent stability, before/after heat treatment for good crystalline structure and microwave power for were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), auger electron microscopy (AES) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The SnOx:F film coated on SUS316 substrate with various process parameters were able to observe optimum interfacial contact resistance (ICR) and corrosion resistance. It can be concluded that fluorine-doping content plays an important function in electrical property and characteristic of corrosion-protective film.