Electrically conductive LCP-carbon composite with low carbon content for bipolar plate applications in PEM fuel cells

Titelangaben

Wolf, Hannes ; Willert-Porada, Monika:
Electrically conductive LCP-carbon composite with low carbon content for bipolar plate applications in PEM fuel cells.
In: Journal of Power Sources. Bd. 153 (2006) Heft 1 . - S. 41-46.
ISSN 0378-7753
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.03.182

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Abstract

Lightweight polymer-carbon composites with high specific electrical conductivity at a carbon content below 40 vol.% were developed. The electrical and mechanical properties and the hydrogen permeability of carbon fiber and particle reinforced liquid crystalline polymers were examined. Vectra® A 950, SIGRAFIL® carbon fibers and Vulcan® XC 72 R carbon black were employed. The composites are found to have sufficient mechanical properties and a hydrogen permeability low enough to be utilised as bipolar plate material in fuel cell applications. The density of the new composite is 20% lower than the density of commercial bipolar plates made from carbon reinforced polymeric composite materials, due to the lower carbon content. The current density at 0.5 V in an operating fuel cell is only 20% lower compared to commercial materials with more than 80 vol.% carbon content and meets the requirements for bipolar plate application.