Fabrication and Coating of Porous Ti6Al4V Structures for Application in PEM Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Technologies
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The production of green hydrogen through proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a promising technology for industry decarbonization, outperforming alkaline water electrolysis (AWE). However, PEMWE requires significant investment, which can be mitigated through material and design advancements. Components like bipolar porous plates (BPPs) and porous transport films (PTFs) contribute substantially to costs and performance. BPPs necessitate properties like corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and mechanical integrity. Titanium, commonly used for BPPs, forms a passivating oxide layer, reducing efficiency. Effective coatings are crucial to address this issue, requiring conductivity and improved corrosion resistance. In this study, porous Ti64 structures were fabricated via powder technology, treating them with thermochemical nitriding. The resulting structures with controlled porosity exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. Analysis through scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), grazing incidence XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the effectiveness of the coating, meeting performance requirements for BPPs.
Source: Materials
DOI: 10.3390/ma17246253
Institutions: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,955
OpenAlex ID: W4405705841