Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

This study investigates the potential for affordable and lightweight polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) using lightweight flow-field plates, also referred to as bipolar plates. A comparative analysis was conducted on the performance of metal-coated and uncoated three-dimensional (3D)-p...

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Main Authors: Dasol Kim, Geonhwi Kim, Juho Na, Hyeok Kim, Jaeyeon Kim, Guyoung Cho, Taehyun Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1533
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author Dasol Kim
Geonhwi Kim
Juho Na
Hyeok Kim
Jaeyeon Kim
Guyoung Cho
Taehyun Park
author_facet Dasol Kim
Geonhwi Kim
Juho Na
Hyeok Kim
Jaeyeon Kim
Guyoung Cho
Taehyun Park
author_sort Dasol Kim
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the potential for affordable and lightweight polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) using lightweight flow-field plates, also referred to as bipolar plates. A comparative analysis was conducted on the performance of metal-coated and uncoated three-dimensional (3D)-printed flow-field plates, as well as that of a conventional graphite flow-field plate. The fabrication of these lightweight flow-field plates involved the application of sputtering and 3D printing technologies. The polarization curves and corresponding electrochemical impedance spectra of PEMFCs with metal-coated 3D-printed, uncoated 3D-printed, and graphite flow-field plates were measured. The results demonstrate that the metal-coated 3D-printed flow-field plate exhibits a gravimetric power density of 5.21 mW/g, while the graphite flow-field plate registers a value of 2.78 mW/g, representing an 87.4% improvement in gravimetric power density for the metal-coated 3D-printed flow-field plate compared to the graphite flow-field plate. These findings suggest the feasibility of reducing the weight of PEMFCs using metal-coated 3D-printed flow-field plates.
format Article
id doaj-art-c56e75bda9544cc781fdb1e06fe12e4a
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-c56e75bda9544cc781fdb1e06fe12e4a2025-08-20T02:42:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01186153310.3390/en18061533Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel CellsDasol Kim0Geonhwi Kim1Juho Na2Hyeok Kim3Jaeyeon Kim4Guyoung Cho5Taehyun Park6School of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06978, Republic of KoreaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06978, Republic of KoreaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06978, Republic of KoreaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06978, Republic of KoreaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06978, Republic of KoreaDepartment Mechanical Engineering, Dankook University, 152 Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si 16890, Gyenggi-do, Republic of KoreaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06978, Republic of KoreaThis study investigates the potential for affordable and lightweight polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) using lightweight flow-field plates, also referred to as bipolar plates. A comparative analysis was conducted on the performance of metal-coated and uncoated three-dimensional (3D)-printed flow-field plates, as well as that of a conventional graphite flow-field plate. The fabrication of these lightweight flow-field plates involved the application of sputtering and 3D printing technologies. The polarization curves and corresponding electrochemical impedance spectra of PEMFCs with metal-coated 3D-printed, uncoated 3D-printed, and graphite flow-field plates were measured. The results demonstrate that the metal-coated 3D-printed flow-field plate exhibits a gravimetric power density of 5.21 mW/g, while the graphite flow-field plate registers a value of 2.78 mW/g, representing an 87.4% improvement in gravimetric power density for the metal-coated 3D-printed flow-field plate compared to the graphite flow-field plate. These findings suggest the feasibility of reducing the weight of PEMFCs using metal-coated 3D-printed flow-field plates.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1533polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cellflow field platethin filmsputtering3D printing
spellingShingle Dasol Kim
Geonhwi Kim
Juho Na
Hyeok Kim
Jaeyeon Kim
Guyoung Cho
Taehyun Park
Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
Energies
polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
flow field plate
thin film
sputtering
3D printing
title Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
title_full Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
title_fullStr Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
title_full_unstemmed Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
title_short Three-Dimensionally Printed Metal-Coated Flow-Field Plate for Lightweight Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
title_sort three dimensionally printed metal coated flow field plate for lightweight polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
topic polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
flow field plate
thin film
sputtering
3D printing
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1533
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