Adhesion of polymeric coatings to bipolar plate surfaces using silane coupling agents

A method of making an element for a fuel cell, comprising:

• admixing a hydrolyzation agent with an adhesion promoting solution to form a mixture;
• wherein said adhesion promoting solution comprises a functionalized silane and an acidic solvent comprising water and wherein said hydrolyzation agent hydrolyzes at least a portion of said functionalized silane to form a polymer comprising silicon;
• applying said mixture to one or more regions of a metal coating layer which overlies a metal substrate and further wherein the metal coating layer includes a continuous layer of oxides of said metal, wherein a portion of said solvent and a portion of said hydrolyzation agent are removed from said mixture, and wherein said polymer comprising silicon remains in a substantially solid phase overlying said continuous layer of oxides on said metal coating layer to form an adhesion promoting coating;
• and
• overlaying said adhesion promoting coating with a corrosion resistant protective polymeric coating at said one or more regions.