Granted Patent B2

US 8,017,280 · App. 11/180,467 · Granted Sep 13, 2011

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. An electrically conductive fluid distribution plate comprising:

a metallic plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate wherein the metallic plate body includes lands adjacent the channels;

a metal-containing adhesion promoting layer having a thickness less than 75 nm disposed on the plate body, the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer comprising a valve metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, tantalum, niobium and mixtures thereof, the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer including a pure valve metal layer or a valve metal-containing alloy layer wherein the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer in the channels is substantially free of composite polymeric conductive material disposed theron; and

a composite polymeric conductive layer disposed on the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer such that the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer adheres the composite polymeric conductive layer to the metallic plate body.

2. The plate of claim 1 wherein the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer further includes an outer surface portion comprising a metal oxide layer, wherein the outer surface portion is present in an amount that does not substantially increase total contact resistance of the metallic plate body relative to a plate body not having the outer surface portion.

3. The plate of claim 1 wherein the metal is titanium.

4. The plate of claim 1 wherein the metal is zirconium.

5. The plate of claim 1 wherein the metal is niobium.

6. The plate of claim 1 wherein the metal is tantalum.

7. The plate of claim 1 wherein the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer is disposed on the plate body by physical vapor deposition.

8. The plate of claim 2 wherein the metal oxide is titanium oxide.

9. The plate of claim 1 wherein the metallic plate comprises stainless steel.

10. The plate of claim 1 wherein the plate has a spreading pressure of at least 200 dyne/centimeters.

11. A fuel cell comprising:

a first electrically conductive fluid distribution plate comprising:

a metallic plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate wherein the metallic plate body includes lands adjacent the channels;

a metal-containing adhesion promoting layer having a thickness less than 75 nm disposed on the plate body, the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer being a pure valve metal layer or a valve metal-containing alloy layer wherein the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer in the channels is substantially free of composite polymeric conductive material disposed thereon; and

a composite polymeric conductive layer disposed on the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer such that the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer adheres the composite polymeric conductive layer to the metallic plate body;

a second electrically conductive fluid distribution plate;

a membrane electrode assembly separating the first electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and the second electrically conductive fluid distribution plate, the membrane electrode assembly comprising:

an electrolyte membrane, having a first side and a second side, an anode adjacent to the first side of the electrolyte membrane; and

a cathode adjacent to the second side of the electrolyte membrane.

Assignments (12)