Surface properties of Ti(N,C,O) thin coating layers deposited by PA-MOCVD for bipolar plates used PEMFC

Abstract

Ti(N,C,O) thin films were deposited by means of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition using a glow discharge with the aim of enhancing the corrosion resistance and electrical contact conductivity of austenitic stainless steel as a candidate materials for the bipolar plates used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The corrosion properties were found to be dependent on the composition, i.e., the precursor source, and on the thickness of the thin films. Tetrakis(diethylamino) titanium used as a liquid metal organic source for the deposition of thin Ti(N,C,O) layers onto austenitic stainless steel provided a significant improvement of the corrosion resistance, which resulted in superior interfacial electrical conductivity after corrosion tests.