Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Effect of SUS316L Bipolar Plate Corrosion on Contact Resistance and PEMFC Performance

SUS316L 분리판 부식에 의한 접촉저항 및 고분자전해질 연료전지 성능에 미치는 영향

  • Kim, Junseob (School of Chemical Engineering, University of Ulsan) ;
  • Kim, Junbom (School of Chemical Engineering, University of Ulsan)
  • Received : 2021.10.21
  • Accepted : 2021.11.17
  • Published : 2021.12.10
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Abstract

Stainless steel was applied as bipolar plate (BP) of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) due to high mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and good machinability. However, stainless steel was corroded and increased contact resistance resulting PEMFC performance decrease. Although the corrosion resistance could be improved by surface treatment such as noble metal coating, there is a disadvantage of cost increase. The stainless steel corrosion behavior and passive layer influence on PEMFC performance should be studied to improve durability and economics of metal bipolar plate. In this study, SUS316L bipolar plate of 25 cm2 active area was manufactured, and experiments were conducted for corrosion behavior at an anode and cathode. The influence of SUS316L BP corrosion on fuel cell performance was measured using the polarization curve, impedance, and contact resistance. The metal ion concentration in drained water was analyzed during fuel cell operation with SUS316L BP. It was confirmed that the corrosion occurs more severely at the anode than at the cathode for SUS316L BP. The contact resistance was increased due to the passivation of SUS316L during fuel cell operation, and metal ions continuously dissolved even after the passive layer formation.

스테인리스강은 기계적 강도와 전기 전도성이 우수하고 가공이 용이하여 고분자전해질 연료전지의 분리판으로 적용되고 있다. 하지만 스테인리스강의 부식으로 인하여 접촉 저항이 증가하여 연료전지 성능이 저하하는 문제점이 있고, 귀금속 재료를 코팅하여 내식성을 높일 수 있으나 비용이 증가하는 단점이 있다. 금속 분리판의 내구성 확보와 경제성 개선을 위하여 고분자전해질 연료전지에서 스테인리스 강 분리판의 부식 거동과 부동태막에 의한 영향을 분석할 필요가 있다. 본 연구에서는 반응 면적이 25 cm2인 SUS316L 분리판을 제작하였고, 수소극과 공기극에 대한 SUS316L 분리판의 부식 거동을 분석하였다. SUS316L 분리판 부식이 연료전지 성능에 미치는 영향을 분극 곡선과 임피던스, 접촉저항을 측정하여 평가하였다. 연료전지 구동 간에 배출 수를 포집하여 SUS316L 분리판에서 용출된 금속 이온의 농도를 분석하였다. SUS316L 분리판에 대하여 공기극에서보다 수소극에서 부식이 활발하게 발생하는 것을 확인하였다. 연료전지 반응에 따라 부동태막이 형성되어 접촉 저항이 증가하였고, 부동태막이 형성된 이후에도 지속적으로 금속 이온이 용출되었다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 연구는 2020년도 산업통상자원부 및 산업기술평가관리원(KEIT) 연구비 지원에 의한 연구임(20011633)

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