The invention relates to a bipolar separator (17) including a first (33) and a second (35) polar plate each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface in which at least one distribution channel (53, 55) is formed, the channels formed in the outer surfaces of the first and the second polar plate enabling fuel and oxidizer, respectively, to flow. The bipolar separator further includes an inner layer (29) provided to be sandwiched and compressed between the substantially planar inner surfaces of the first (33) and the second (35) polar plate, so as to form a laminated structure. The inner layer is formed by a perforated sheet comprising a group of through-grooves that form branchless channels, the ends of which lead, respectively, to two manifolds such that the coolant is able to flow between the first (33) and the second (35) polar plate.

The invention relates to a bipolar separator (17) including a first (33) and a second (35) polar plate each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface in which at least one distribution channel (53, 55) is formed, the channels formed in the outer surfaces of the first and the second polar plate enabling fuel and oxidizer, respectively, to flow. The bipolar separator further includes an inner layer (29) provided to be sandwiched and compressed between the substantially planar inner surfaces of the first (33) and the second (35) polar plate, so as to form a laminated structure. The inner layer is formed by a perforated sheet comprising a group of through-grooves that form branchless channels, the ends of which lead, respectively, to two manifolds such that the coolant is able to flow between the first (33) and the second (35) polar plate.

The present invention relates to a method of coating one or more metal components of a fuel cell stack, such as a bipolar plate, an electrode, gaskets etc., the method comprising the steps of providing an uncoated metal component; etching said uncoated metal component; optionally depositing an adhesion layer on the etched uncoated metal component; and depositing a carbon coating on either the adhesion layer or on the etched uncoated metal component, with the adhesion layer and the carbon coating respectively being deposited by means of one of a physical vapor deposition process, an arc ion plating process, a sputtering process, and a Hipims process. The invention further relates to a component of a fuel cell stack and to an apparatus for coating one or more components of a fuel cell stack.

The present invention relates to a method of coating one or more metal components of a fuel cell stack, such as a bipolar plate, an electrode, gaskets etc., the method comprising the steps of providing an uncoated metal component; etching said uncoated metal component; optionally depositing an adhesion layer on the etched uncoated metal component; and depositing a carbon coating on either the adhesion layer or on the etched uncoated metal component, with the adhesion layer and the carbon coating respectively being deposited by means of one of a physical vapor deposition process, an arc ion plating process, a sputtering process, and a Hipims process. The invention further relates to a component of a fuel cell stack and to an apparatus for coating one or more components of a fuel cell stack.

Disclosed is an electrode for a membrane-electrode assembly, in which a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic portion of an ionomer are bonded to a catalyst so that the alignment of the hydrophilic group and the hydrophobic portion of the ionomer is controlled, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Disclosed is an electrode for a membrane-electrode assembly, in which a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic portion of an ionomer are bonded to a catalyst so that the alignment of the hydrophilic group and the hydrophobic portion of the ionomer is controlled, and a method of manufacturing the same.

In a progressive pressing device, a first state of a lifting part is a state not sandwiching an elongated metal plate between a lifting plate and an upper plate in a state in which a positioning pin and a positioning hole are not engaged, a second state is a state not sandwiching an elongated metal plate between a lifting plate and an upper plate in a state in which a positioning pin and a positioning hole are engaged, and a third state is a state sandwiching an elongated metal plate between a lifting plate and an upper plate in a state in which a positioning pin and a positioning hole are engaged.

A fuel cell bipolar flow field plate and a fuel cell stack are provided. The fuel cell bipolar flow field plate includes a first gas channel and a second gas channel. Each of the gas channels has several sub-channels, each of the sub-channels has bending parts, and adjacent sub-channels have opposite flow directions. The sub-channels of the two gas channels form a four-leaf clover type pattern in a reaction area of the fuel cell bipolar flow field plate. A bending angle of each of the bending parts in the four-leaf clover type pattern is within 90 degrees.

A fuel cell bipolar flow field plate and a fuel cell stack are provided. The fuel cell bipolar flow field plate includes a first gas channel and a second gas channel. Each of the gas channels has several sub-channels, each of the sub-channels has bending parts, and adjacent sub-channels have opposite flow directions. The sub-channels of the two gas channels form a four-leaf clover type pattern in a reaction area of the fuel cell bipolar flow field plate. A bending angle of each of the bending parts in the four-leaf clover type pattern is within 90 degrees.

A method for producing bipolar plates for fuel cells, one metal strip or two metal strips is/are guided through a second or third device. The second device is designed to carry out fine cleaning and/or nitriding of the metal strip, and the third device carries out surface coating on one side of a surface with a metal layer that improves adhesion. Applying a carbon layer in a fourth device. The metal strips are then shaped, during which process channels are formed. The shaped metal strips are moved and positioned such that surface regions come into contact with one another. Joining is performed with a laser beam, which is directed into a gap between the shaped metal strips moved towards one another. The individual steps in the devices, like shaping and joining, are carried out in a continuous process.