Effect of Bipolar Plate Materials on the Stress Distribution and Interfacial Contact Resistance in PEM Fuel Cell

In polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) system, ideal structural integrity design takes into account the end-to-end load transfer mechanism. Hence, structural durability of cell is dependent of individual layers response to the external clamp loading. Since failure modes of each layer differ from another, multidisciplinary approach is needed to innovative designs. Bipolar plate (BPP) of PEFC is multi-functional layer that has a significant potential for research to avoid its structural failure as well as neighboring layers. To this end, present work investigates the effect of BPP materials on the stress transfer as well as distribution in cell layers based on theoretical investigation for clamping load. Gas-diffusion layer (GM) / BPP interface has drawn considerable interest among researchers due to its susceptibility for damage failure and other related losses. Hence, investigating the interfacial behavior and relating this to the electrical contact resistance is the key feature in proposed investigation.