Graphene-Coated Ni–Cu Alloys for Durable Degradation Resistance of Bi-Polar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Remarkable Role of Alloy Composition

Abstract

Bipolar plates, a critical component of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), are constructed out of alloys of Ti, Pt, Cr, or graphitic materials that have limitations. Electrical conductivity, cost, and corrosion resistance are among the critical considerations for bi-polar plate material. Graphene, which possesses impressive conductivity and toughness, is an attractive option as coating on metallic substrates of PEMFC bipolar plates. This study investigates corrosion resistance and its durability due to graphene developed by chemical vapor deposition on a pure Ni–Cu alloy and a commercial Ni–Cu alloy in 0.5 m H2SO4 environment, with a view to exploring use of graphene coated Ni–Cu alloys for the construction of PEMFC bipolar plates. The graphene coating on the pure alloy shows remarkably superior corrosion resistance than the commercial alloy that is attributed to the former's ability to develop considerably defect-free graphene.