A method of making an interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes compressing an interconnect powder to form an interconnect, the interconnect power containing Cr, Fe and at least one transition metal selected from Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, or V pre-alloyed with at least one of the Cr and the Fe, and sintering the interconnect.

A separator plate for an electrochemical system, comprising: at least one of the flanks of the bead assembly has a multiplicity of passages for directing a medium through the bead flank, and a distributing or collecting structure has a multiplicity of line ducts and a multiplicity of openings, wherein the line ducts adjoin the passages in the bead flank on an external side of the bead assembly, wherein the openings are disposed on a side of the distributing or collecting structure that faces away from the bead assembly and, are fluidically connected to a bead interior.

Provided are a stainless steel sheet with good corrosion resistance, low contact resistance and good press workability without the use of expensive materials such as gold or rare metals, and a method of manufacture the same. A method of manufacturing a stainless steel sheet includes: preparing a slab having a chemical composition including, in mass %: 20 to 26% Cr, up to 0.1% N, up to 2.0% Si, etc. (step S1); performing hot rolling and cold rolling on the slab to produce a rolled steel sheet with a thickness of 50 to 200 μm (step S2); an annealing step in which the rolled steel sheet is annealed and cooled in a gas atmosphere containing nitrogen (step S3); and pickling the rolled steel sheet after the annealing step with a solution containing a non-oxidizing acid (step S4). The stainless steel sheet has an N content of 0.6 to 2.0% by mass.

Provided are a stainless steel sheet with good corrosion resistance, low contact resistance and good press workability without the use of expensive materials such as gold or rare metals, and a method of manufacture the same. A method of manufacturing a stainless steel sheet includes: preparing a slab having a chemical composition including, in mass %: 20 to 26% Cr, up to 0.1% N, up to 2.0% Si, etc. (step S1); performing hot rolling and cold rolling on the slab to produce a rolled steel sheet with a thickness of 50 to 200 μm (step S2); an annealing step in which the rolled steel sheet is annealed and cooled in a gas atmosphere containing nitrogen (step S3); and pickling the rolled steel sheet after the annealing step with a solution containing a non-oxidizing acid (step S4). The stainless steel sheet has an N content of 0.6 to 2.0% by mass.

The present invention is directed to a fuel cell separator 1 Included in a fuel cell, and the fuel cell separator 1 includes: a substrate 11 made of stainless steel; a middle portion 30 including a power generating portion; and an outer peripheral portion 20 including a non-power generating portion. The middle portion 30 includes a dissimilar metal layer 12 different from the stainless steel included in the substrate on the substrate, and a carbon layer 13 provided on the dissimilar metal layer 12, and the outer peripheral portion 20 Includes a portion including the dissimilar metal layer 12, the carbon layer 13, and a resin layer 14 on the carbon layer, and a portion not including the dissimilar metal layer 12 or the carbon layer 13, and including the resin layer 14 on the substrate.

The present invention is directed to a fuel cell separator 1 Included in a fuel cell, and the fuel cell separator 1 includes: a substrate 11 made of stainless steel; a middle portion 30 including a power generating portion; and an outer peripheral portion 20 including a non-power generating portion. The middle portion 30 includes a dissimilar metal layer 12 different from the stainless steel included in the substrate on the substrate, and a carbon layer 13 provided on the dissimilar metal layer 12, and the outer peripheral portion 20 Includes a portion including the dissimilar metal layer 12, the carbon layer 13, and a resin layer 14 on the carbon layer, and a portion not including the dissimilar metal layer 12 or the carbon layer 13, and including the resin layer 14 on the substrate.

Method for forming a metallic component surface to achieve lower electrical contact resistance. The method comprises modifying a surface chemical composition and creating a micro-textured surface structure of the metallic component that includes small peaks and/or pits. The small peaks and pits have a round or irregular cross-sectional shape with a diameter between 10 nm and 10 microns, a height/depth between 10 nm and 10 microns, and a distribution density between 0.4 million/cm.sup.2 and 5 billion cm.sup.2.

Method for forming a metallic component surface to achieve lower electrical contact resistance. The method comprises modifying a surface chemical composition and creating a micro-textured surface structure of the metallic component that includes small peaks and/or pits. The small peaks and pits have a round or irregular cross-sectional shape with a diameter between 10 nm and 10 microns, a height/depth between 10 nm and 10 microns, and a distribution density between 0.4 million/cm.sup.2 and 5 billion cm.sup.2.

The invention relates to a gas distributor plate (2) for gas distribution and flow guidance at least in electrolysers or fuel cells, comprising a structure arranged on a contact surface of the gas distributor plate (2), for gas distribution and flow guidance, the structure for gas distribution and flow guidance being formed as a deformable structure (10).

A cell includes an element portion, a gas-flow passage, a first metal portion, a second metal portion, and a reinforcing portion. Reaction gas flows through the gas-flow passage. The first metal portion is located between one surface side of the gas-flow passage and the element portion, and supports the element portion. The second metal portion is located on the other surface side opposite to the one surface side of the gas-flow passage. The reinforcing portion is located inside the gas-flow passage and faces the first metal portion and the second metal portion.