# US 2013/0157166 A1 · Bipolar plate and fuel cell

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2013/0157166 A1
- Document ID: US20130157166A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/565,753
- Filed: 2012-08-02
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20
- Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute
- Inventors: Li-Duan Tsai; Jiunn-Nan Lin; Chien-Ming Lai; Cheng-Hong Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157166A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/026: characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth
- H01M 8/0206: Metals or alloys
- H01M 8/0213: Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials
- H01M 8/0223: Composites
- H01M 8/0228: in the form of layered or coated products
- H01M 8/023: Porous and characterised by the material
- H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A bipolar plate and a fuel cell are provided. The bipolar plate for the fuel cell has a plurality of flow channels, and a rib is defined between neighboring two flow channels. A top surface of the rib may be a roughened surface or have a porous structure in order to improve performance of the fuel cell.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bipolar plate for a fuel cell, the bipolar plate comprising a plurality of flow channels, wherein a rib is defined between neighboring two of the flow channels, and the bipolar plate is characterized in that: a top surface of the rib is a roughened surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the roughened surface of the rib has a pore diameter of approximately 20 μm to 200 μm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the roughened surface of the rib has a pore area fraction of approximately 50% to 90%.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the roughened surface of the rib has a roughness of approximately 0.1 μm to 10 μm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the rib is a flat surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a material of the bipolar plate comprises metal, graphite, or a composite material.

### Claim 7

A bipolar plate for a fuel cell, the bipolar plate having a plurality of flow channels, wherein a rib is defined between neighboring two of the flow channels, and the bipolar plate is characterized in that: a top portion of the rib has a porous structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein the porous structure comprises a conductive material and a hydrophobic material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the conductive material comprises carbon black, graphite, carbon fiber or metal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises tetrafluoroethylene.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein an addition amount of the hydrophobic material is less than 60 wt %.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein the porous structure has a porosity range of approximately 30% to 80% and hydrophobicity.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The bipolar plate for the fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein a material of the bipolar plate comprises metal, graphite, or a composite material.

### Claim 14

A fuel cell, comprising:
a plurality of bipolar plates, wherein each of the bipolar plates has a plurality of flow channels, and a rib is defined between neighboring two of the flow channels; and
at least one membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed among the bipolar plates, wherein
a top portion of the rib has a porous structure, and the porous structure is compressed in contact with the membrane electrode assembly.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein the porous structure comprises a conductive material and a hydrophobic material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein the conductive material comprises carbon black, graphite, carbon fiber, or metal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises tetrafluoroethylene.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein an addition amount of the hydrophobic material is less than 60 wt %.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein the porous structure has a porosity range of approximately 30% to 80% and hydrophobicity.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein a material of the bipolar plate comprises metal, graphite, or a composite material.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein the porous structure is compressed in contact with a gas diffusion layer of the membrane electrode assembly.