Performance of Nb0.8Zr0.2 Layer-Modified AISI430 Stainless Steel as Bipolar Plates for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

doi:10.1007/s40195-020-01133-w

Abstract

Abstract:

To improve the interfacial conductivity and corrosion resistance of AISI430 stainless steel (430SS) as bipolar plates for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs), a Nb_0.8Zr_0.2 layer has been successfully synthesized via the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique on the surface of 430SS. This Nb_0.8Zr_0.2 layer is smooth, uniform, and comparatively compact without any surface flaw and micropore. Investigation under the simulated anodic environment of DFAFCs (0.05 M H₂SO₄ + 2 ppm HF + 10 M HCOOH at 70 °C) shows that the corrosion resistance of 430SS is obviously ameliorated after the PLD modification. In addition, the interfacial contact resistance of Nb_0.8Zr_0.2-430SS (6.0 mΩ cm ²) is much smaller than that of bare 430SS (151.3 mΩ cm ²) at the clamping force of 140 N cm ^-2. Besides, different from the highly increased interfacial contact resistance of bare 430SS, the Nb_0.8Zr_0.2-430SS shows a minor increase resistance after potentiostatic tests in simulated anodic environment of DFAFCs.

Key words: Corrosion resistance, Nb_0.8zr_0.2 layer, Direct formic acid fuel cell, Interfacial contact resistance, Bipolar plates

Yuanyuan Liu, Zhongmin Lang, Jinlong Cui, Shengli An. Performance of Nb_0.8Zr_0.2 Layer-Modified AISI430 Stainless Steel as Bipolar Plates for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2021, 34(1): 77-84.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 X-ray diffraction patterns for Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS and bare 430SS

Fig. 2 a Surface morphology, b SEM image, c composition analysis of the cross section of Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS

Fig. 3 ICRs of bare 430SS and Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS under different clamping forces

Fig. 4 Contact angles of a bare 430SS, b Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS with water

Fig. 5 Potentiodynamic polarization curves a and current-time curves b for bare 430SS and Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS measured in the simulated anodic DFAFCs environment

Table 1 Corrosion potential and current density of samples polarized in the simulated DFAFCs environment

Sample	E_corr/mV	I_{0.1 V}/μA cm^-1
Bare 430 SS	- 441	227.51
Zr-430 SS	- 263	1.06

Fig. 6 Surface morphologies of a bare 430SS b Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS after potentiostatic polarization tests for 4 h in the simulated anodic DFAFCs environment

Fig. 7 ICRs of bare 430SS and Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS under different clamping forces after 4 h potentiostatic polarization tests in the simulated anodic DFAFCs environment

Fig. 8 a Nyquist plots measured by EIS in the simulated anodic DFAFCs environment; equivalent circuits of the corrosion system for b bare 430SS c Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS

Table 2 Electrochemical parameters for anodic environment of DFAFCs obtained from simulated equivalent circuits

Sample	R_s/Ω cm²	C_f/Ω^{-1 cm-2} S^-1	R_f/Ω cm²	Q_dl/Ω^{-1 cm-2} S^-ⁿ	n_dl	R_c/Ω cm²	W/Ω^-1 S^{-0.5 cm-2}
Bare 430SS	1.399	5.081 × 10^-7	10.867	4.531 × 10^-4	0.8757	4.069 × 10²	8.273 × 10^-3
Nb_0.8Zr_0.2-430SS	2.807	9.858 × 10^-8	17.474	5.582 × 10^-5	0.8796	3.038 × 10⁴	2.504 × 10^-4

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