Development of carbon/PEEK composite bipolar plates with nano-conductive particles for High-Temperature PEM fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs)

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) systems are environmentally friendly power sources that have many potential applications. Although bipolar plates made of carbon fiber composites have high strength and stiffness and also resist corrosion in an acidic environment, they exhibit only marginal electrical conductivity, which compromises the efficiency of PEM fuel cells. In this work, to increase both the manufacturing productivity and the electrical conductivity of a High- Temperature PEM fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) bipolar plate, PEEK (Poly Ether-ether Ketone), a high temperature thermoplastic polymer was employed as the matrix of the carbon composite bipolar plate. To increase the electrical conductivity and strength, a continuous carbon fiber composite and conductive nano-particles were used. The electrical resistance and the mechanical properties were measured at both low and high temperatures. Environmental durability tests were performed to verify the durability of the developed bipolar plates.