Hydrophilic coating for fuel cell bipolar plate and methods of making the same

A product comprising:

• a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si—O group and an Si—R group wherein R includes a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain, and wherein the molar ratio of Si—R groups to Si—O groups ranges from ⅛ to ½.

A product-by-process comprising:

• depositing a coating on a fuel cell component using a plasma assisted chemical deposition process comprising a precursor gases comprising a siloxane, and further comprising a second gas.

A product-by-process as set forth in claim 24 wherein R is an alkyl group.

A product-by-process comprising:

• depositing a coating on a fuel cell component using a plasma assisted chemical deposition process comprising a precursor gas and further comprising a second gas, the precursor gases comprising a material having the formula
• wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, each may be H, O, Cl, or a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain, and wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, may be the same or different.

A product comprising:

• a fuel cell component having a coating thereon, wherein the coating includes nanopaticles having a size ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers, and wherein the nanoparticles comprises a compound comprising a Si—O group, a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain and a polar group.

40-68. (canceled)