Surface modification of metal bipolar plate used in direct methanol fuel cell

Graphite bipolar plates have high cost,fragile,poor permeability resistance and so on.It seriously restricts on the development of direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC).The surface modification of metal materials has corrosion resistance,low electrical contact resistances and high processing strength.Therefore,the modified materials have attracted a wider attention.This work respectively reviews the metal surface modification which involved with the metal and its oxide,conductive polymer,carbon film,metal carbide and metal nitride acted as the modified film.The performance of metal bipolar plate of corrosion resistance performance,electrical contact resistances,the compositions and morphology of surface film have been emphatically analyzed before and after modification.Moreover,the effect of the modified metal bipolar plates on electrochemical behavior and life of fuel cell have been compared.The trends of modified metal bipolar plates used to DMFC have been forecasted.