Application of nickel/graphene coating on foam metal flow field of PEMFC

doi:10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2024-1238

Abstract

Abstract:

Foam metals exhibit excellent mass transport properties and flow distribution capabilities, having significant potential as flow field materials in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, they suffer severe corrosion issues in acidic and high-temperature environments. To solve these problems, nickel/graphene composite coatings were prepared on the surface of nickel foam by electrodeposition in this paper. The effect of different deposition methods on the physical properties was investigated and characterized using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicated that higher electrodeposition current density led to lower grain size and Ni(0) content. Compared to uniformly distributed coatings obtained under constant current conditions, gradient coatings prepared sequentially at 5mA/cm² and 10mA/cm² exhibited superior corrosion resistance in Tafel polarization tests, potential-static tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. At 150N/cm² pressure, the interfacial contact resistance (ICR) of the gradient coating was only 8.065mΩ/cm², which met the requirements of the 2025 DOE standard.

Key words: PEMFC, foam metal, electrodeposition, corrosion resistance, nickel/graphene

摘要：

泡沫金属具有优良的传质特性和导流能力，在质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）流场材料中具有巨大应用潜力。然而在酸性和高温环境中存在严重腐蚀问题，为缓解这种现象，本文通过电沉积方法在泡沫镍表面制备了镍/石墨烯复合涂层，并采用X射线衍射（XRD）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）等方法研究了不同沉积方式对涂层物理性质的影响。结果表明，随着电沉积电流密度增大，涂层晶粒和Ni(0)含量均呈现下降趋势。相较于恒电流条件下制备的均匀涂层，先后在5mA/cm²和10mA/cm²电流密度下电沉积制备的梯度涂层在塔菲尔（Tafel）极化测试、恒电位测试和电化学阻抗谱测试中表现出更优异的耐腐蚀性能。在150N/cm²压力下，梯度涂层的界面接触电阻（ICR）仅为8.065mΩ/cm²，满足2025年DOE标准要求。

关键词: 质子交换膜燃料电池, 泡沫金属, 电沉积, 耐腐蚀性, 镍/石墨烯

CLC Number:

TK91

ZUO Qibin, ZHANG Han, SUN Chuanfu, HU Guilin, XIA Yuzhen. Application of nickel/graphene coating on foam metal flow field of PEMFC[J]. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress, 2025, 44(9): 5195-5201.

左启斌, 张涵, 孙传付, 胡桂林, 夏玉珍. 镍/石墨烯涂层在质子交换膜燃料电池泡沫金属流场上的应用[J]. 化工进展, 2025, 44(9): 5195-5201.

Figures/Tables 11

References 29

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样品	平均晶粒大小/nm
Ni/G5	37.03
Ni/G10	33.27
Ni/G15	24.9
Ni/G5-10	31.81

样品	平均晶粒大小/nm
Ni/G5	37.03
Ni/G10	33.27
Ni/G15	24.9
Ni/G5-10	31.81

样品	Ni(0)/%
Ni/G5	24.1
Ni/G10	22.3
Ni/G15	20.7
Ni/G5-10	17.1

样品	Ni(0)/%
Ni/G5	24.1
Ni/G10	22.3
Ni/G15	20.7
Ni/G5-10	17.1

样品	E_corr/V		I_corr/μA·cm^-2		V_corr/mm·a^-1
样品	50℃	80℃	50℃	80℃	50℃	80℃
Ni/G5	-0.309	-0.382	32.27	48.18	3.49×10^-2	5.20×10^-2
Ni/G10	-0.259	-0.371	28.94	42.21	3.13×10^-2	4.56×10^-2
Ni/G15	-0.363	-0.383	34.98	57.71	3.78×10^-2	6.23×10^-2
Ni/G5-10	-0.140	-0.319	21.11	32.23	2.11×10^-2	3.48×10^-2