Research Article Open Access

Development of Bipolar Plates Using Expanded Graphite as a Raw Material

Abstract

The bipolar plate is a major component of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). It is the costlier component of PEMFC stack. Expanded graphite-polymer composites were fabricated by compression moulding. Expanded graphite (EG), which is synthesized by heating of natural graphite at 750°C.The expanded graphite synthesized in this study has 20% of volume expansion. Expanded Graphite mixed manually with Resole Phenolic resin. Expanded graphite provides electrical conductivity and phenolic resin provides mechanical strength to the bipolar plate. Expanded-polymer composite has shown maximum electrical conductivity. On deviation from metallic materials expanded Graphite-Polymer composite bipolar plate are found promising for PEMFC providing the values targeted toward US-DOE.

Supriya Jadhav, Sneha Dhole, Sheetal Suryavanshi, Kavita S. Suranje, V S Galphade

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