Smart Energy and Sustainable Environment , ISSN 2668-957X
2026, Volume 29, Issue 2
Pages 65-72

https://doi.org/10.46390/j.smensuen.29226.468

BIPOLAR PLATES FOR PEM FUEL CELLS: ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE AND COMPOSITE MATERIAL REUSABILITY

Abstract

This work aims to investigate composite materials used for the fabrication process of bipolar plates in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. At an applicative level, the through-plane electrical conductivity was measured for five commercial samples, potential candidates for bipolar plates. Among these, the highest results indicated 2236 S/m. This plate was milled in order to obtain gas flow channels, and the resulting powder was collected. The analysis of chemical elemental composition of this sample was carried out using the Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy method. The content proved to be rich in carbon, and the absence of impurities indicated a possible reuse of the obtained powder for the manufacture of adhesives in order to assemble a bipolar plate. The other four samples, with known conductivity were assembled, using two adhesive proposals developed in the laboratory. The samples used resins as the polymeric matrix, and the obtained powder form the machined plate. Through-plane electrical conductivity of each assembly was then measured, before the addition of the adhesive, with the plates in direct contact, and after the addition of the adhesive. It was found that the first sample shows the best overall performance.

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