• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제46권12호
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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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• 제13권6호
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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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• 제9권3호
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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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• 제15권2호
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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.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2014년도 제46회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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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.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제46권5호
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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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• 제33권4호
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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.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.68-74
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• 2009

본 연구에서는 탄소성형 분리판의 물리화학적, 전기화학적 특성을 분석하여 수소 및 개미산연료 전지의 성능에 미치는 영향을 알아보았다. 기존 기계가공 탄소분리판과 탄소복합소재 탄소성형 분리판의 접촉저항, 부식특성, 소수성을 비교 평가하였다. 특히, 현재 연구개발 중인 탄소복합소재 성형분리판의 경우 계면접촉저항이 기계가공 분리판보다 1.5배 높게 나타났으며, 내식성 실험에서는 산에 취약하여 분리판 표면이 거칠어지고 결정성이 감소하였다. 연료전지의 성능은 분리판의 계면접촉저항에 크게 영향을 받았으며, 계면저항이 적은 기계가공 분리판이 수소 및 개미산 연료 전지에서 높은 성능을 나타냈다.

• Composites Research
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.190-196
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• 2024

분리판은 바나듐 레독스 흐름전지(VRFB) 스택 내 셀의 전기적 통로 및 구조적 지지 역할 수행하는 매우 중요한 부품 중 하나이다. 흑연 소재는 전기 전도성이 뛰어나 분리판에 주로 사용되지만, 셀 스택에서 전극과 분리판 사이에 높은 계면 접촉 저항(ICR)이 발생하여 VRFB의 성능에 심각한 제한이 존재한다. 본 연구에서는 ICR의 한계를 해결할 수 있는 일체형 전극-분리판 조립체를 개발하는 것을 목표로 하였다. 일체형 조립체는 핫 프레스 방법을 활용하여 열가소성 및 열경화성 폴리머와 단일 탄소 펠트를 사용하여 제작하였다. 실험 결과, 일체형 조립체가 연속적인 전기 경로로 인해 감소된 전체 저항을 나타냄을 확인하였다. 또한, 충/방전 셀 테스트 결과에서 일체형 조립체는 향상된 셀 성능을 보여주었다. 따라서 개발된 일체형 전극-분리판 조립체는 기존의 분리판 및 전극 조립체를 대체할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제48권3호
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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.