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 bipolar separator is formed by the superimposition of two distribution plates and two cooling plates, the two cooling plates being arranged between the two distribution plates, each distribution plate having an outer face and an inner face, the outer face of each distribution plate being provided with distribution channels for the flow of a reactive fluid, the cooling plates defining internal conduits for the circulation of a cooling fluid.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it is provided a method of manufacturing a separator comprising:

preparing expansion graphite; pulverizing the expansion graphite; mixing the expansion graphite and polymer; and forming a separator by molding the mixture.

Provided is a fuel cell separator precursor that is obtained by impregnating a porous sheet, which contains a conductive filler, with a resin composition that contains a thermoplastic resin and a conductive filler.

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.

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.

In order to provide a separator for fuel cells, or a current collecting member for fuel cells, which has low contact resistance, excellent corrosion resistance and which can be economically manufactured, and a manufacturing method thereof, this separator for fuel cells comprises a substrate having iron or aluminum as the main component, a gas barrier film formed directly on said substrate and having excellent corrosion resistance, and a conductive resin film formed on the gas barrier film and containing a conductive ceramics or graphite particles having a particle diameter of 1-20 μm.

In order to provide a separator for fuel cells, or a current collecting member for fuel cells, which has low contact resistance, excellent corrosion resistance and which can be economically manufactured, and a manufacturing method thereof, this separator for fuel cells comprises a substrate having iron or aluminum as the main component, a gas barrier film formed directly on said substrate and having excellent corrosion resistance, and a conductive resin film formed on the gas barrier film and containing a conductive ceramics or graphite particles having a particle diameter of 1-20 μm.