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.

An alloy member includes a base member that includes a plurality of recesses in a surface and is constituted by an alloy material containing chromium, a plurality of embedded portions that are respectively disposed in the plurality of recesses, and a coating layer that covers the base member and is connected to the plurality of embedded portions. An average value of actual lengths of line segments of the plurality of embedded portions is longer than an average value of straight lengths of straight lines of the plurality of embedded portions in a cross-section of the base member along a thickness direction of the base member. The average value of the actual lengths is 1.10 times or more the average value of the lengths of the straight lines.

An alloy member includes a base member that includes a plurality of recesses in a surface and is constituted by an alloy material containing chromium, a plurality of embedded portions that are respectively disposed in the plurality of recesses, and a coating layer that covers the base member and is connected to the plurality of embedded portions. An average value of actual lengths of line segments of the plurality of embedded portions is longer than an average value of straight lengths of straight lines of the plurality of embedded portions in a cross-section of the base member along a thickness direction of the base member. The average value of the actual lengths is 1.10 times or more the average value of the lengths of the straight lines.

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.

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.

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.

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 cell stack device includes a cell stack and an end current collector. The cell stack includes a plurality of cells arrayed therein. The end current collector is located in an end portion of the cell stack in an array direction of the plurality of cells. The end current collector includes a surface exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere covered with a covering material including manganese and a surface exposed to a reducing atmosphere covered with a film different from the covering material.