# US 8,771,900 B2 · Super-hydrophobic composite bipolar plate including a porous surface layer

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

- Number: US 8,771,900 B2
- Document ID: US8771900B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/841,813
- Filed: 2010-07-22
- Published: 2012-01-26
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2006-10-31
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: Richard H. Blunk
- Inventors: Richard H. Blunk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771900B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/0228: in the form of layered or coated products
- H01M 8/0206: Metals or alloys
- H01M 8/023: Porous and characterised by the material
- H01M 8/0234: Carbonaceous material
- 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 hydrophobic composite bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a substrate having a composite material including carbon and a surface layer on the substrate. The surface layer includes silicon and oxygen, and a hydrocarbon moiety attached to at least one of the silicon or oxygen.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A product comprising a fuel cell component, said product comprising:
a substrate including a hydrocarbon material, a porous surface layer over the substrate, the porous surface layer including silicon and oxygen, a diffusion barrier selectively deposited between the porous layer and the substrate, and a hydrocarbon moiety attached to at least one of the silicon or oxygen, wherein at least a portion of the porous surface layer is hydrophobic, and wherein the diffusion barrier prevents the hydrocarbon moiety from diffusing into the porous layer where the diffusion barrier is provided.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the substrate includes a composite material comprising said hydrocarbon material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the substrate includes a base and a first layer over the base, and wherein the first layer includes said hydrocarbon material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The product as set forth in claim 3 wherein the base includes a metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The product as set forth in claim 4 wherein the base includes stainless steel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The product as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first layer includes carbon black and/or graphite particles mixed with an organic resin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the substrate includes a gas flow field formed therein including a plurality of lands and channels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The product as set forth in claim 7 wherein the porous surface layer is over only the lands and not over the channels.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the porous surface layer is super-hydrophobic having a contact angle greater than 130°.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the porous surface layer includes silicon dioxide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the porous surface layer includes SiOx where 0.1<x<2.0.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the porous surface layer includes silicon bonded to oxygen.

### Claim 13

A composite bipolar plate for a fuel cell, said bipolar plate comprising a substrate including a hydrocarbon material and a porous surface layer over the substrate, said porous surface layer including SiOx where 0.1<x<2.0, said substrate including a base and a first layer over the base where the first layer includes the hydrocarbon material, said base being a metal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The bipolar plate as set forth in claim 13 wherein the base includes stainless steel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The bipolar plate as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first layer includes carbon black and/or graphite particles mixed with an organic resin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The bipolar plate as set forth in claim 13 wherein the substrate includes a gas flow field formed therein including a plurality of lands and channels.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The bipolar plate as set forth in claim 16 wherein the porous surface layer is over only the lands and not over the channels.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The bipolar plate as set forth in claim 13 wherein the porous surface layer is super-hydrophobic having a contact angle greater than 130°.