LU505524B1 - A method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate - Google Patents

A method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate Download PDF

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Publication number
LU505524B1
LU505524B1 LU505524A LU505524A LU505524B1 LU 505524 B1 LU505524 B1 LU 505524B1 LU 505524 A LU505524 A LU 505524A LU 505524 A LU505524 A LU 505524A LU 505524 B1 LU505524 B1 LU 505524B1
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LU
Luxembourg
Prior art keywords
composite material
fuel cell
bipolar plate
cell bipolar
glue
Prior art date
Application number
LU505524A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Zhiyong Zhao
Original Assignee
Univ Shandong
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Publication date
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Priority to LU505524A priority Critical patent/LU505524B1/en
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Publication of LU505524B1 publication Critical patent/LU505524B1/en

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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02Details
    • H01M8/0202Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02Details
    • H01M8/0202Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0234Carbonaceous material
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02Details
    • H01M8/0202Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0241Composites

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

This invention discloses a method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate, wherein the preparation method includes the following steps: preparing a prefabricated structure of a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure; adding a thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin to the prefabricated structure of the non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure, spraying a glue solution to obtain a layered composite material; layering multiple layered composite materials and hot-pressing to obtain the fuel cell bipolar plate. The preparation method of the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate of the present invention, by doping thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin into its interior without destroying the carbon nanotube network structure, can significantly improve the conductivity of the composite material. The shaping can be achieved through ordinary hot pressing, with a simple process that allows for mass production.

Description

DESCRIPTION LUS05524
A METHOD FOR PREPARING A COMPOSITE MATERIAL FUEL CELL
BIPOLAR PLATE
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention discloses a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate and its preparation method, belonging to the field of fuel cell technology.
BACKGROUND
The fuel cell bipolar plate serves as the "skeleton" in the stack of membrane electrode assemblies in a fuel cell. It plays a crucial role in providing support, collecting current, and distributing gases. The weight of the bipolar plate accounts for approximately 70% or more of the total fuel cell mass, with the associated costs comprising over 35%.
Fuel cell bipolar plates are required to exhibit excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as superior bending resistance, corrosion resistance, low cost, and lightweight characteristics. Traditional metal bipolar plates, while having a simple production process and low cost, often suffer from limited lifespan due to insufficient corrosion resistance. On the other hand, graphite bipolar plates, typically made from high-density graphite, face challenges such as brittleness, inadequate mechanical strength, high cost, and large volume.
In recent years, composite materials have become the mainstream materials for producing new types of battery bipolar plates. In existing technologies, graphite conductive powder materials are usually mixed with resin to form a slurry for injection molding or hot pressing. While these methods meet the basic requirements of bipolar plates, issues such as poor conductivity and unstable quality persist.
SUMMARY LU505524
The purpose of this application is to provide a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate and its preparation method to address the technical problems of poor conductivity and poor stability in the existing technology, which involves mixing graphite conductive powder materials with resin to form a slurry for injection molding or hot pressing to obtain fuel cell bipolar plates.
The first aspect of the invention provides a method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate, including:
Preparation of a prefabricated structure of a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure.
Addition of thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin in powdered form to the prefabricated structure, followed by spraying a glue solution to obtain a layered composite material.
Layering multiple layered composite materials and hot-pressing to obtain the fuel cell bipolar plate.
In the preferred embodiment, the spray of glue solution to obtain the layered composite material includes mixing a volatile liquid with glue to form a glue solution. The volatile liquid is ethanol or acetone, with a volume ratio less than or equal to 50%. The glue is polyvinyl alcohol glue with a volume content of less than 20%.
After obtaining the layered composite material, it may be further dried in a drying oven at a preset temperature, and multiple dried layered composite materials can be layered and hot-pressed.
The second aspect of the invention provides a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate prepared using the above-mentioned method.
In the preferred embodiment, the volume density of the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate is less than or equal to 1.3 g/em°.
The preparation method of the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate in this invention significantly improves the conductivity of the composite material by doping thermoplastic or thermosetting resin into the carbon nanotube network structure without damaging it. The shaping can be achieved through ordinary hot pressing, with a simple process suitable for mass production. Additionally, the low density of the composite platé/505524 significantly reduces the weight of the fuel cell bipolar plate. The composite material fuel cell bipolar plate of this invention is a lightweight bipolar plate with high conductivity and stable quality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 is a flow chart of a method for preparing a composite fuel cell bipolar plate in an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform with thermoplastic resin functional powder particles added in a specific embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the nanotube network structure penetrating inside the melted resin in a specific embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to illustrate rather than limit, specific details such as particular system structures and technologies are presented for a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the invention can be implemented without these specific details in other embodiments. In other cases, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, devices, circuits, and methods are omitted to avoid unnecessary details that may hinder the description of the invention.
The first aspect of the invention provides a method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate, as illustrated in Figure 1, including the following steps:
Step 1: Prepare a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform. Specifically:
Use carbon-containing organic compounds such as acetylene, methane, ethanol as carbon sources.
Introduce the carbon source into a high-temperature furnace through liquid atomization or solid sublimation.
Conduct high-temperature pyrolysis of the carbon source as it moves from the fedd/505524 end to the discharge end along the axial direction of the furnace in the presence of a gas flow mainly composed of hydrogen, argon, or nitrogen.
The high-temperature pyrolysis results in the formation of carbon atoms, and an in-situ chemical reaction, facilitated by catalysts containing Fe and S (such as ferrocene and thiophene), generates carbon nanotubes.
Assembled by the gas flow, the carbon nanotubes form a macroscopic body and are gradually collected at the outlet of the furnace, forming a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform.
Step 2: Add thermoplastic or thermosetting resin to the non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform, and spray a glue solution to obtain a layered composite material. Specifically:
Substep 2.1: Add thermoplastic or thermosetting resin to the preform, with the amount not less than 30% (by volume).
Embodiments of thermoplastic resins include polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), polyphenyl ether, polysulfone, rubber, etc.
Embodiments of thermosetting resins include epoxy resin, polyester resin, vinyl ester, bismaleimide, thermosetting polyimide, cyanate ester, etc.
Use automated or non-automated powder spreading devices to evenly distribute micron or nano-sized thermoplastic resin powder or thermosetting resin powder inside the non-dense carbon nanotube network porous structure preform.
Alternatively, use automated or non-automated atomization devices to produce micron or nano-sized thermoplastic resin solution or thermosetting resin solution as atomized particles, then add them to the preform through physical deposition.
Substep 2.2: Mix a volatile liquid with glue to obtain a glue solution.
Volatile liquids in this embodiment include ethanol, acetone, diethyl ether, etc.
The glue in this embodiment can be water-soluble glue or oil-based glue.
Water-soluble glue is preferred for its environmental friendliness and low cost,
Embodimentsinclude polyvinyl alcohol glue, polyvinyl acetate glue, polyurethane glugUs05524 etc.
The volume content of water-soluble glue is less than 20%, for example, it can be 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 18%; the volume ratio of volatile liquid is less than or equal to 50%, for example, it can be 30%, 40%, 45%, 48%, or 50%. The resulting glue solution, while ensuring bonding strength, can reduce energy consumption during the evaporation of the subsequent volatile liquid.
Substep 2.3: Spray the glue solution onto the surface of the non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform with added thermoplastic or thermosetting resin to obtain a layered composite material.
Use ultrasonic atomization or high-pressure atomization to spray the glue solution onto the surface of the preform. The glue solution will gradually infiltrate into the preform, and under the surface tension, the preform shrinks into a layered structure.
Water-soluble glue can improve the connection strength between carbon nanotube bundles, enhancing the overall mechanical properties of the material.
Step 3: Layer multiple layered composite materials and hot press to obtain the fuel cell bipolar plate.
To avoid the influence of the volatile liquid in the glue solution on the stability of the final prepared fuel cell bipolar plate, the layered composite material is placed in a drying oven at a preset temperature for drying, obtaining a dry layered composite material.
Correspondingly, layer multiple dry layered composite materials and hot press to obtain the fuel cell bipolar plate.
In this embodiment, the preset temperature of the drying oven is less than or equal to 150°C, and should not exceed the curing temperature of the thermoplastic or thermosetting resin to prevent melting during drying. The hot pressing temperature is in the range of 290°C to 310°C, and the pressure is in the range of 1MPa to 2MPa. Under these hot pressing conditions, the thermoplastic or thermosetting resin inside multiple layered composite materials melts under the temperature and pressure, flows between the carbon nanotube networks, connecting to form a network structure with the carbdr/505524 nanotube networks, achieving a dense structure.
The second aspect of the invention provides a method for preparing a fuel cell bipolar plate using the above composite material fuel cell bipolar plate. The volume density of the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate is less than or equal to 1.3g/cm3, significantly reducing compared to metal, graphite, and other composite material bipolar plates in volume density. The thickness is thin, with excellent conductivity and stable quality.
The following are more specific embodiments of the invention:
Embodiment 1
In this specific embodiment, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) thermoplastic resin functional powder particles were added to a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform with a thickness of 10cm and a porosity of over 99%.
The internal structure of the preform with added thermoplastic resin functional powder particles is shown in Figure 2. A glue solution was prepared using a mixture of ethanol and water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol, with ethanol volume ratio of 50% and polyvinyl alcohol volume content of 3%. After drying at 150°C for 2 hours, a layered carbon nanotube/resin composite material with a thickness of 0.1mm was obtained. Twenty layered composite materials were stacked layer by layer and hot-pressed in a vacuum hot press at a pressure of 1.5MPa, a temperature of 295°C, and a holding time of 30 minutes, resulting in a fuel cell bipolar plate with a thickness of 2mm. The nanotube network structure in the bipolar plate penetrates into the melted resin, as shown in Figure 3. Testing of the 2mm thick fuel cell bipolar plate revealed an electrical conductivity greater than 1200S/cm, tensile strength greater than 120MPa, and flexural strength greater than 60MPa, meeting the performance requirements for fuel cell bipolar plates.
The volume density was no greater than 1.3g/cm3, significantly lower than metal, graphite, and other composite material bipolar plates in density.
Embodiment 2
In this specific embodiment, epoxy resin was added to a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform with a thickness of 15cm and a porosity of over 99%. A glue solution was prepared using a mixture of acetone arld/505524 polyurethane glue, with acetone volume ratio of 45% and polyvinyl alcohol volume content of 18%. After drying at 150°C for 2 hours, a layered carbon nanotube/resin composite material with a thickness of 0.15mm was obtained. Twenty layered composite materials were stacked layer by layer and hot-pressed in a vacuum hot press at a pressure of 2MPa, a temperature of 300°C, and a holding time of 30 minutes, resulting in a fuel cell bipolar plate with a thickness of 3mm. Testing of the 3mm thick fuel cell bipolar plate revealed an electrical conductivity greater than 1100S/cm, tensile strength greater than 100MPa, and flexural strength greater than 50MPa, meeting the performance requirements for fuel cell bipolar plates. The volume density was no greater than 1.2g/cm3, significantly lower than metal, graphite, and other composite material bipolar plates in density.
Embodiment 3
In this specific embodiment of the present invention, vinyl ester was added to a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure preform with a thickness of 8cm and a porosity of over 99%.
A glue solution was prepared using a mixture of ethanol and water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol as the infiltration solution, with an ethanol volume ratio of 30% and polyvinyl alcohol volume content of 10%. After drying at 150°C for 2 hours, a layered carbon nanotube/resin composite material with a thickness of 0.1mm was obtained.
Twenty layered composite materials were stacked layer by layer and hot-pressed in a vacuum hot press at a pressure of 1MPa, a temperature of 310°C, and a holding time of 30 minutes, resulting in a fuel cell bipolar plate with a thickness of 2mm.
Testing of the 2mm thick fuel cell bipolar plate revealed an electrical conductivity greater than 1230S/cm, tensile strength greater than 120MPa, and flexural strength greater than 80MPa, meeting the performance requirements for fuel cell bipolar plates.
The volume density was no greater than 1.2g/cm3, significantly lower than metal, graphite, and other composite material bipolar plates in density.
The preparation method of the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate of the present invention, by doping resin-based functional powder particles into its interior without disrupting the carbon nanotube network structure, can significantly enhance tHé/505524 conductivity of the composite material. The shaping can be achieved through ordinary hot pressing, the process is simple, suitable for mass production, and the density of the composite plate is small, contributing to a significant reduction in the weight of the fuel cell bipolar plate.
The composite fuel cell bipolar plate of the present invention is a lightweight battery bipolar plate with high conductivity and stable quality.
The above are only a few embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application in any way. Although the present application is disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present application. Any skilled person familiar with this field, Without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application, slight changes or modifications made using the technical content disclosed above are equivalent to equivalent implementation examples and fall within the scope of the technical solution

Claims (4)

CLAIMS LU505524
1. A method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate, characterized by comprising the following steps: a. preparing a prefabricated structure of a non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure; b. adding thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin in powdered form to the prefabricated structure of the non-dense carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure, spraying a glue solution to obtain a layered composite material; c. placing the layered composite material in a drying oven at a preset temperature for drying, obtaining the dried layered composite material; d. layering multiple dried layered composite materials and hot-pressing to obtain the fuel cell bipolar plate; e. the glue solution for spraying, to obtain the layered composite material, specifically includes: i. mixing a volatile liquid with glue to obtain a glue solution; the volatile liquid is ethanol or acetone, and the volume ratio of the volatile liquid is less than or equal to 50%; the glue is polyvinyl alcohol glue, and the volume content of polyvinyl alcohol glue is less than 20%; ii. spraying the glue solution onto the surface of the carbon nanotube continuous network porous structure prefabricated body after adding thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin, obtaining the layered composite material.
2. The preparation method for the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate according to claim 1, wherein the hot-pressing temperature is 290°C to 310°C, and the pressure is 1 MPa to 2 MPa.
3. The method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate using the preparation method according to claim 1 or 2 to obtain the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate.
4. The composite material fuel cell bipolar plate according to claim 3, wherein the volume density of the composite material fuel cell bipolar plate is less than or equal to
1.3 g/lcm?,
LU505524A 2023-11-15 2023-11-15 A method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate LU505524B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU505524A LU505524B1 (en) 2023-11-15 2023-11-15 A method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU505524A LU505524B1 (en) 2023-11-15 2023-11-15 A method for preparing a composite material fuel cell bipolar plate

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
LU505524B1 true LU505524B1 (en) 2024-05-15

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