BIPOLAR PLATE FOR A FUEL CELL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
The present invention relates to a separator plate for a fuel cell and to a method for producing the same, and relates to an invention wherein a surface-modification layer is formed through the use of low temperature plasma processing such that it is possible to prevent the hydrophobic characteristics which occur during gasket forming and to have outstanding hydrophilic characteristics, and such that it is possible to obtain the advantageous effect of highly outstanding corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity not only initially but also even after long-term use in a fuel-cell operating environment, and also such that it is possible to maintain outstanding durability even when using a normal low-price stainless-steel sheet base material, and it is possible to reduce the unit cost of production of the separator plate for the fuel cell since surface processing can be carried out at low cost.
1 . A method for manufacturing a bipolar plate for fuel cells, comprising:
(a) forming a metal bipolar plate for fuel cells;
(b) performing pretreatment on a surface of the metal bipolar plate; and
(c) forming a plasma hydrophilic treatment layer by performing non-thermal plasma treatment on the surface of the metal bipolar plate after performing the pretreatment.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of (b) performing pretreatment comprises at least one of (b-1) wet-cleaning the surface of the metal bipolar plate, and (b-2) dry-cleaning the surface of the metal bipolar plate.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of (b-1) wet cleaning may be performed using acetone or ethanol for 5 minutes to 10 minutes.
4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of (b-2) dry cleaning is performed using atmospheric pressure plasma cleaning.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a coating layer on the surface of the metal bipolar plate between the step of (b) performing pretreatment and the step of (c) performing non-thermal plasma treatment.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the coating layer is a dry or wet coating layer.