本研究使用金屬多孔材為質子交換膜燃料電池之流場，金屬多孔材具有高孔隙率、質量輕及導電性佳之特性，且相較於傳統流道不具遮蔽效應。由於燃料電池運作時內部為高濕度及弱酸性之環境，勢必會侵蝕流道進而影響電池壽命，因此需透過表面鍍層處理提升金屬多孔材之抗腐蝕性、導電 性與疏水性等。本研究使用鍍層為氮化鈦、氮化鋯、氮化鉻及石墨烯，並透過表面微觀、接觸角與腐蝕測試分析材料性質，再組成單電池分析性能表現。 金屬多孔材上所有鍍層的接觸角比未塗層的高 28°±1.5°，具有疏水性鍍 層可以輕鬆排出 PEMFC 運作中產生的水產物。腐蝕極化結果顯示所有鍍層均具有抗腐蝕性，但 ZrN 在 80 ℃下顯示出更好的腐蝕穩定性。而在 80 ℃下進行腐蝕測試後與其他鍍層相比，ZrN 接觸角更高，且腐蝕測試前後的表面形態表明，ZrN 顯示出更好的腐蝕穩定性。由 ZrN 組裝的 PEMFC 單電池在 0.6 V 時的電流密度為 1894.6 mA/cm2，比 CrN 高 538.9 mA/cm2。長期腐蝕測試顯示，ZrN 相較其他鍍層具有腐蝕速率較慢之優勢，適合當作腐蝕抑制層，這有利於 PEMFC 的長期運行。 ;Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has gained significant attention for clean energy generation in recent days. A porous, light and conductive metal foam is used a flow channel for PEMFC for easy gas transfer and better performance compared to the conventional flow channel. The presence of high humid and weak acidic atmosphere inside the PEMFC corrodes metal foam on long-term operation and further effects the life-time of PEMFC. In this research, we aim to develop a hydrophobic, conductive and corrosion resistance coating on the metal foam for long-term operation of PEMFC. Titanium nitride, zirconium nitride, chromium nitride and graphene are coated over the porous copper and nickel foam. As developed coatings were characterized to analyze the surface morphology, contact angle and corrosion polarization test. Further, performance of the PEMFC single cell assembled with various coated metal foams is analyzed. The contact angle of all the coatings on metal foam is 28?±1.5? higher than the uncoated metal foam. Coatings with low surface energy and lower wettability property is coated over the surface of metal foam can offer easy discharge of water product generated in the function of the PEMFC. The corrosion polarization results shows that all the coatings possess corrosion resistance property. But, ZrN shows better corrosion stability among them at a temperature of 80 ?C. After the corrosion current density test at 80 ?C, the contact angle for ZrN coated on metal foam is higher compared to the other samples. Also, the surface coating morphological characterization before and after the stability test shows that the ZrN shows better corrosion stability compared to the TiN, CrN and graphene coatings. The PEMFC single cell assembled with ZrN/nickel outperforms with a current density of 1894.6 mA/cm2 at 0.6 V, which is538.9 mA/cm2 higher compared to the CrN/nickel. This is achieved with easy discharge of water product generated in PEMFC functioning. The long-term corrosion polarization tests shows that ZrN offers higher corrosion resistant compared to the other samples, which is beneficial for long-term operation of PEMFC. A corrosion resistant coating over porous flow channel (nickel foam) is successfully developed in this study is useful for PEMFC operating. This study is useful for the researchers working in fuel cell are to develop a high performance PEMFC.
