• 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.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.73.1-73.1
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• 2010

For the successful cold starting of a fuel cell engine, either internal of external heat supply must be made to overcome the formation of ice from water below the freezing point of water. In the present study, switchable vanadium oxide compounds as variable temperature-electrical resistance materials onto the surface of flat metallic bipolar plates have been prepared by a dip-coating technique via an aqueous sol-gel method. Subsequently, the chemical composition and micro-structure of the polycrystalline solid thin films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. In addition, it was carefully measured electrical resistance hysteresis loop over a temperature range from $-20^{\circ}C$ to $80^{\circ}C$ using the four-point probe method. The experimental results revealed that the thin films was mainly composed of Karelianite $V_2O_3$ which acts as negative temperature coefficient materials. Also, it was found that thermal dissipation rate of the vanadium oxide thin films partially satisfy about 50% saving of the substantial amount of energy required for ice melting at $-20^{\circ}C$. Moreover, electrical resistances of the vanadium-based materials converge on an extremely small value similar to that of pure flat metallic bipolar plates at higher temperature, i.e. $T{\geq}40^{\circ}C$. As a consequence, experimental studies proved that it is possible to apply the variable temperature-electrical resistance material based on vanadium oxides for the cold starting enhancement of a fuel cell vehicle and minimize parasitic power loss and eliminate any necessity for external equipment for heat supply in freezing conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2010

This paper proposed lightweight aluminum bipolar plates as an alternative for conventional graphite bipolar plates in fuel cell systems used as a power source for small reconnaissance UAVs. Since bipolar plates occupy more than 80% of the total weight of the fuel cell system, lightweight aluminum bipolar plates can improve the overall payload and flight time of the fuel cell UAV. The aluminum and graphite bipolar plates were fabricated to compare the performance of each of them. A 15% higher performance per weight was obtained from aluminum bipolar plates than the graphite bipolar plates. Also, the performance of a single cell using aluminum bipolar plates was evaluated under various operating conditions.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.66-66
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• 2005

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.3-3
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.14-14
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.1297-1298
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• 2011

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.347-360
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• 2021

Currently, the demand for eco-friendly energy sources is high, which has prompted research on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Both aluminum alloys and nickel alloys, which are commonly considered as materials of bipolar plates in fuel cells, oxide layers formed on the metal surface have excellent corrosion resistance. In this research, the electrochemical characteristics of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 were investigated with chloride concentrations in an acid environment that simulated the cathode condition of the PEMFC. After potentiodynamic polarization experiments, Tafel analysis and surface analysis were performed. Inconel 600 presented remarkably good corrosion resistance under all test conditions. The corrosion current density of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy was significantly higher than that of Inconel 600 under all test conditions. Also, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 presented uniform corrosion and intergranular corrosion, respectively. The Ni, Cr, and Fe, which are the main chemical compositions of Inconel 600, are higher than Al in the electromotive force series. And a double oxide film of NiO-Cr₂O₃, which is more stable than Al₂O₃, is formed. Thus, the corrosion resistance of Inconel 600 is better.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.162-167
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• 2012

Ni-P/C multi-layer was synthesized by electroless plating and paste coating for better corrosion and surface conductance as a metallic bipolar plate. The Ni-P layer could be synthesized with the range of 2.6~22.4 at.% P contents and it's surface morphology and corrosion resistance depend on content of P. Corrosion resistance of the Ni-P layer in sulfuric acid by electrochemical test is similar with pure Ni. Surface resistance of pure Ni after corrosion was increased about 8% compared to pure Ni. On the other hand, that of the Ni-P/C composite with 20% carbon content was increased only 1%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.278-281
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• 2009

The performance of aluminum bipolar plates was evaluated for the lightweight fuel cell system as a power source for a small reconnaissance UAV. Higher performance per weight was obtained from aluminum bipolar plates than the graphite bipolar plates. To check the influence of operating temperature, the performance of a single cell using aluminum bipolar plates was evaluated at 40 / 50 / $60^{\circ}C$. When dry hydrogen and air were used, the finest performance was obtained at $40^{\circ}C$, a lower operating temperature compared with usual operating temperatures.