Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of environmental factors on corrosion behaviors of metal-fiber porous components in a simulated direct methanol fuel cell environment

  • Published:
International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, and Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To enable the use of metallic components in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), issues related to corrosion resistance must be considered because of an acid environment induced by the solid electrolyte. In this study, we report the electrochemical behaviors of metal-fiber-based porous sintered components in a simulated corrosive environment of DMFCs. Three materials were evaluated: pure copper, AISI304, and AISI316L. The environmental factors and related mechanisms affecting the corrosion behaviors were analyzed. The results demonstrated that AISI316L exhibits the best performance. A higher SO 2−4 concentration increases the risk of material corrosion, whereas an increase in methanol concentration inhibits corrosion. The morphological features of the corroded samples were also characterized in this study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. Hoogers, A. Bauen, E. Chen, D. Hart, M. Hinsberger, M. Hogarth, R. Stone, and D. Thompsett, Fuel Cell Technology Handbook, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2003, p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  2. C.K. Dyer, Fuel cells for portable applications, J. Power Sources, 106(2002), No. 1–2, p. 31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. W.M. Qian, D.P. Wilkinson, J. Shen, H.J. Wang, and J.J. Zhang, Architecture for portable direct liquid fuel cells, J. Power Sources, 154(2006), No. 1, p. 202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. A.S. Aricò, S. Srinivasan, and V. Antonucci, DMFCs: from fundamental aspects to technology development, Fuel Cells, 1(2001), No. 2, p. 133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J.S. Cooper, Design analysis of PEMFC bipolar plates considering stack manufacturing and environment impact, J. Power Sources, 129(2004), No. 2, p. 152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. W. Schmittinger and A. Vahidi, A review of the main parameters influencing long-term performance and durability of PEM fuel cells, J. Power Sources, 180(2008), No. 1, p. 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. J.F. Wu, X.Z. Yuan, J.J. Martin, H.J. Wang, J.J. Zhang, J. Shen, S.H. Wu, and W. Merida, A review of PEM fuel cell durability: degradation mechanisms and mitigation strategies, J. Power Sources, 184(2008), No. 1, p. 104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. H. Tawfik, Y. Hung, and D. Mahajan, Metal bipolar plates for PEM fuel cell: a review, J. Power Sources, 163(2007), No. 2, p. 755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. R.A. Antunes, M.C.L. Oliveira, G. Ett, and V. Ett, Corrosion of metal bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells: a review, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 35(2010), No. 8, p. 3632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. H.L. Wang, M.A. Sweikart, and J.A. Turner, Stainless steel as bipolar plate material for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, J. Power Sources, 115(2003), No. 2, p. 243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. P.Y. Yi, L.F. Peng, T. Zhou, J.Q. Huang, and X.M. Lai, Composition optimization of multilayered chromium-nitride-carbon film on 316L stainless steel as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, J. Power Sources, 236(2013), p. 47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. P.Y. Yi, L.F. Peng, T. Zhou, H. Wu, and X.M. Lai, Development and characterization of multilayered Cr-C/a-C:Cr film on 316L stainless steel as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, J. Power Sources, 230(2013), p. 25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. C.H. Liang, C.H. Cao, and N.B. Huang, Electrochemical behavior of 304 stainless steel with electrodeposited niobium as PEMFC bipolar plates, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 19(2012), No. 4, p. 328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Y. Yang, L.J. Guo, and H.T. Liu, Factors affecting corrosion behavior of SS316L as bipolar plate material in PEMFC cathode environments, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 37(2012), No. 18, p. 13822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. R. Włodarczyk and A. Wronska, Effect of pH on corrosion of sintered stainless steels used for bipolar plates in polymer exchange membrane fuel cells, Arch. Metall. Mater., 58(2013), No. 1, p. 89.

    Google Scholar 

  16. S. Lædre, O.E. Kongstein, A. Oedegaard, F. Seland, and H. Karoliussen, The effect of pH and halides on the corrosion process of stainless steel bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 37(2012), No. 23, p. 18537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. R. Chen and T.S. Zhao, Porous current collectors for passive direct methanol fuel cells, Electrochim. Acta, 52(2007), No. 13, p. 4317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. T. Shudo and K. Suzuki, Performance improvement in direct methanol fuel cells using a highly porous corrosion-resisting stainless steel flow field, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 33(2008), No. 11, p. 2850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J.G. Liu, G.Q. Sun, F.L. Zhao, G.X. Wang, G. Zhao, L.K. Chen, B.L. Yi, and Q. Xin, Study of sintered stainless steel fiber felt as gas diffusion backing in air-breathing DMFC, J. Power Sources, 133(2004), No. 2, p. 175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. W. Yuan, Y. Tang, X. Yang, L. Bu, and Z. Wan, Corrosion behavior of porous metal fiber-sintered felt in both simulated and practical environments of a direct methanol fuel cell, Corrosion, 69(2013), No. 1, p. 25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. W. Yuan, Y. Tang, X.J. Yang, and Z.P. Wan, Toward using porous metal-fiber sintered plate as anodic methanol barrier in a passive direct methanol fuel cell, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 37(2012), No. 18, p. 13510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Surface Functional Structure Manufacturing of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Wei Yuan, Bo Zhou, Yong Tang, Zhao-chun Zhang & Jun Deng

Authors
  1. Wei Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bo Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhao-chun Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jun Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Yuan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yuan, W., Zhou, B., Tang, Y. et al. Effects of environmental factors on corrosion behaviors of metal-fiber porous components in a simulated direct methanol fuel cell environment. Int J Miner Metall Mater 21, 913–918 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0989-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0989-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation