• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1063-1069
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• 2012

In present paper, we used magnesium alloy having a lower density and higher electrical conductivity for bipolar plate to reduce the weight of PEM fuel cell. The silver was coated to prevent corrosion and form passivation film on the metal surface with sputtering. In acid proof evaluation for setting optimal coating conditions, the homogeneity of coating thickness was improved by coating with the thickness of 3 ${\mu}m$ which not indicated any micro cracks and the temperature $180^{\circ}C$. The performance test and evaluation based on the clamping pressure and channel depth to determine the configuration of bipolar plate for assembling single cell was implemented. And then we assembled single cell with this bipolar plate and implemented the performance test to ensure and compare the current-voltage performance followed as several factors such as coating or non-coating, the change of clamping pressure, the change of channel depth, etc. As these results, the maximum power density of single cell with the coated bipolar plate was 192 $mW/cm^2$ and it was confirmed that the power density per unit mass was better than existing metal bipolar plate.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.259-275
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• 2008

This study aims to optimize the mechanical and electrical properties of electrically conductive polymer composites (CPCs) for use as a material of bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells. The thin CPCs consisting of conductive fillers and polymer resin were fabricated by a preform molding technique. Expanded graphite (EG), flake-type graphite (FG) and carbon fiber (CF) were used as conductive fillers. This study tested two types of CPCs, EG/FG filled CPCs and EG/CF filled CPCs, to optimize the material properties. First, the characteristics of EG/FG filled CPCs were investigated according to the FG ratio for 7 and $100{\mu}m$ sized FG. CPCs using $100{\mu}m$ FG showed optimal material properties at 60 wt% FG ratio, which were an electrical conductivity of 390 S/cm and flexural strength of 51 MPa. The particle size was an important parameter to change the mechanical and electrical behaviors. The flexural strength was sensitive to the particle size due to the different levels of densification. The electrical conductivity also showed size-dependent behavior because of the different contributions to the conductive network. Meanwhile, the material properties of EG/CF filled CPCs was also optimized according to the CF ratio, and the optimized electrical conductivity and flexural strength were 290 S/cm and 58 MPa, respectively. The electrical conductivity of this case decreased similarly to the EG/FG filled case. On the other hand, the behavior of the flexural strength was more complicated than the EG/FG filled case, and the reason was attributed to the interaction between the strengthening effect of CF and the deterioration of voids.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.41-44
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• 2008

본 연구에서는 고분자 전해질 연료전지용 금속분리판의 전기화학적 부식을 방지하기 위한 금속 첨가 DLC(Diamond-like-carbon) 표면처리 방법을 개발하였으며, stainless steel 304를 모재로 하여 텅스텐 첨가 DLC, 티타늄 첨가 DLC, 몰리브덴 첨가 DLC 금속분리판을 제작하였다. 제작된 금속분리판을 이용하여 내구성 평가,전기화학적 부식 특성, 성능평가 및 접촉저항 특성 등을 평가하였다. 전기화학적 부식특성의 경우 각각의 분리판에 대해 6.69, 1.2, 1.0 ${\mu}A/cm^2$로 모재인 STS 304의 25 ${\mu}A/cm^2$의 부식전류밀도에 비해 우수한 부식특성을 보였다. 또한 초기 성능에서 몰리브덴 첨가 DLC 분리판의 경우 300 mA/$cm^2$에서 0.757 V로 측정되었으며, 이는 graphite 분리판 측정 결과인 0.758 V와 유사한 성능을 보였다. 또한 내구성 평가에서 초기 성능 대비 성능 감소율이 10% 감소하는데 소요된 시간은 graphite 분리판의 경우 2,000시간으로 나타났으며, 몰리브덴 첨가 DLC 분리판의 경우 1,700시간으로 측정되었다. 1,500시간 까지의 성능 감소율은 grphite,텅스텐 첨가DLC,티타늄 첨가DLC, 몰리브덴 첨가 DLC 분리판 순으로 각각에 대해 37.7, 60.3, 92.8, 45.7 ${\mu}V$/hr로 나타났다.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.1 no.2 s.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2005

The effects of internal manifold designs on the reactants feed-stream in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells [PEFCs] is studied to figure out flow and thermal distribution patterns over an entire fuel cell stack. Reactants flows are modeled either laminar of turbulent depending on regions and the open channels in the bipolar plates are simulated by porous media where permeability should be pre-deter-mined for computational analysis. In this work, numerical models for reactants feed-stream In the PEFC manifolds are classified Into two major flow patterns: Z-shape and U-shape. Several types of manifold geometries are analyzed to find the optimal manifold configurations. The effect of heat generation in PEFC on the flow distribution is also Investigated applying a simplified heat transfer model in the stack level (i.e. multi-cell electrochemical power-generation unit). This modeling technique Is well suited for many large scale problems and this scheme can be used not only to account for the manifold flow pattern but also to obtain Information on the optimal design and operation of PEFC systems.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.324-324
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• 2006

Nb and Ti were added to 316 stainless steel, and then heat-treatments and surface treatments were performed on the 316 stainless steel and the Nb- and Ti-added alloys. All samples indicated enhanced electrical conductivity after surface treatments, whereas they showed low electrical conductivity before surface treatments due to the existence of non-conductive passive film on the alloy surface. In particular, the Hb- and Ti-added alloys showed remarkable enhancement of electrical conductivity compared to the original alloy, 316 stainless steel. Surface characterization revealed that small carbide particles formed on the alloy surface after surface treatments, while the alloys indicated flat surface structure before surface treatments. $Cr_{23}C_6$ mainly formed on the 316 stainless steel, and NbC and TiC mainly formed on the Nb- and Ti-added alloys, respectively. We attribute the enhanced electrical conductivity after surface treatments to the formation of these carbide particles, possibly acting as a means of electro-conductive channel through the passive film. Furthermore, NbC and TiC are supposed to be more effective carbides than $Cr_{23}C_6$ as electro-conductive channels of stainless steel

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.160-165
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• 2009

연료전지 분리판은 연료전지 스택을 구성하는 부품 중에서 가장 많은 수량이 사용되는 부품의 하나로서 연료전지의 출력밀도(Power Density, W/L), 비출력(Specific Power, W/kg) 및 가격($/kWe) 관점에서 가능한 저가의 소재 및 제조공정으로 경량, 박형화가 이루어져야 하는 핵심 부품이다. 이러한 저가의 경량, 박형화 분리판 개발의 전제조건은 연료전지 스택에서 요구하는 다양한 물성, 장기수명 및 신뢰성은 나타내는 내구성을 만족해야 하는 것이다. 이렇듯 연료전지 분리판은 다음과 같은 요구 조건을 만족해야 한다. 높은 전기전도도, 전기화학적 부식 저항성, 화학적 안전성, 가스 기밀성, 기계적 강도 및 가공성 등이라 하겠다. 본 연구에서는 분리판의 요구 조건을 만족할 수 있는 분리판을 제작하기 위하여 고분자 복합소재(PCB; Printed Circuit Board)를 이용하여 전기도금을 통해 Cu/Au(1st PCB 분리판)과 Cu/Ni/Au(2st PCB 분리판)을 코팅하여 분리판을 제작하였다. 제조된 분리판을 이용하여, 접촉저항, 부식특성, 가스 기밀성, 기계적 강도를 분석하였으며, 단위전지를 제작 하여 상용 Graphite 분리판과 성능을 비교분석하였다.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2011

A Ni-W thin-film was synthesized by electrodeposition, and its corrosion resistance and electrical surface conductivity were investigated. Amount of tungsten in the Ni-W thin-film increased linearly with current density during the electrodeposition, and crack-free and low-crystalline Ni-21 at.%W coating layer was obtained. Corrosion resistances of the Ni-W thin-films were examined with an anodic polarization method and a storage test in a strong sulfuric acid solution. As a result, the Ni-21 at.%W thin-film exhibited the greatest corrosion resistance, and maintained the electrical surface conductivity even after the severe corrosion test, which could be applicable as a surface treatment for advanced metallic bipolar plates in fuel cell or redox flow battery systems.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2021

Various studies about metallic bipolar plates have been conducted to improve fuel cell performance through flow field design optimization. These research works have been mainly focused on fuel cells for vehicle, but not fuel cells for building. In order to reduce the price and volume of fuel cell stacks for building, it is necessary to apply a metallic flow field, In this study, for a metallic flow field applied to a fuel cell for building, the effect of a change in the flow field shape on the performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was confirmed using a model and experiments with a down-sizing single cell. As a result, the flow field using a metal foam outperforms the channel type flow field because it has higher internal differential pressure and higher reactants velocity in gas diffusion layer, resulting in higher water removal and higher oxygen concentration in the catalyst layer than the channel type flow field. This study is expected to contribute to providing basic data for selecting the optimal flow field for the full stack of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells for buildings.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.618-623
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• 2022

The bipolar plate is a key component of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that transfers reactants and electrons, discharges water and heat as by-products, and serves as a mechanical support for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Therefore, the flow field structure of the bipolar plate plays an important role in improving fuel cell performance. In this study, PEMFC performance was investigated with copper foams with different compressibility ratios applied to cathode bipolar plates using a 25 cm² unit cell. The total resistance decreased as the compressibility ratio of the metal foams increased, and, in particular, the charge transfer and mass transfer resistance were significantly improved compared to the serpentine flow field, lowering voltage loss in medium and high current density region. In the case of pressurized air reactant flow with serpentine structure, fuel cell performance was similar to that of a compressed metal foam flow field (S3) up to the medium current density region, but low performance appeared in the high current density region due to flow field structure limitations.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.585-592
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• 2011

The enhancement of the cold-start capability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells is of great importance in terms of the durability and reliability of fuel-cell vehicles. In this study, vanadium oxide films deposited onto the flat surface of metallic bipolar plates were synthesized to investigate the feasibility of their use as an efficient self-heating source to expedite the temperature rise during startup at subzero temperatures. Samples were prepared through the dip-coating technique using the hydrolytic sol-gel route, and the chemical compositions and microstructures of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the electrical resistance hysteresis loop of the films was measured over a temperature range from -20 to $80^{\circ}C$ using a four-terminal technique. Experimentally, it was found that the thermal energy (Joule heating) resulting from self-heating of the films was sufficient to provide the substantial amount of energy required for thawing at subzero temperatures.