Composite bipolar plate for electrochemical cells

Patent · 01 January 2001

OSTI ID:873792

Wilson, Mahlon S ^[1]; Busick, Deanna N ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

A bipolar separator plate for fuel cells consists of a molded mixture of a vinyl ester resin and graphite powder. The plate serves as a current collector and may contain fluid flow fields for the distribution of reactant gases. The material is inexpensive, electrically conductive, lightweight, strong, corrosion resistant, easily mass produced, and relatively impermeable to hydrogen gas. The addition of certain fiber reinforcements and other additives can improve the properties of the composite material without significantly increasing its overall cost.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 6248467
• OSTI ID: 873792
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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addition
additives
bipolar
bipolar plate
bipolar separator
cells
collector
composite
composite mat
composite material
conductive
consists
contain
corrosion
corrosion resistant
cost
current
current collector
distribution
easily
electrically
electrically conductive
electrochemical
electrochemical cell
electrochemical cells
ester
fiber
fields
flow
flow field
flow fields
fluid
fluid flow
fuel
fuel cell
fuel cells
gas
gases
graphite
graphite powder
hydrogen
hydrogen gas
impermeable
improve
increasing
inexpensive
lightweight
mass
mass produced
material
mixture
molded
molded mixture
overall
plate
plate serves
powder
produced
properties
reactant
reactant gas
reactant gases
reinforcements
relatively
resin
resistant
separator
separator plate
serves
significantly
strong
vinyl
vinyl ester