초록 ▼

One exemplary embodiment includes a fuel cell component having comprising a carbon chain, and a material grafted to the coating/surface, wherein the material includes ionic or polar groups. One embodiment includes composite plates which include carbon that can be activated and treated to make their

One exemplary embodiment includes a fuel cell component having comprising a carbon chain, and a material grafted to the coating/surface, wherein the material includes ionic or polar groups. One embodiment includes composite plates which include carbon that can be activated and treated to make their surface hydrophilic.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: providing a fuel cell component comprising carbon and a surface including active groups thereon,providing a hydrophilic polymer comprising ionic or polar groups and capable of reacting with said active groups;grafting said polymer onto the component by reaction with the activ

1. A method comprising: providing a fuel cell component comprising carbon and a surface including active groups thereon,providing a hydrophilic polymer comprising ionic or polar groups and capable of reacting with said active groups;grafting said polymer onto the component by reaction with the active groups. 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the providing a fuel cell component including carbon and a surface with reactive groups thereon comprises providing a substrate having a coating comprising carbon thereon and exposing the component to atmospheric plasma to produce the active groups on the surface of the coating. 3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the coating comprises at least one of epoxies, silicones with graphite particles, polyamide-imides, polyether-imides, polyphenols, fluro-elastomers, polyesters, phenoxy-phenolics, epoxide-phenolics, acrylics, or urethanes polymers, and wherein said active groups comprise oxygenated groups. 4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the coating comprises an epoxy coating. 5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the polymer comprises polyethylenimine and the ionic groups comprise amine groups. 6. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the polymer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol and the ionic groups comprise hydroxyl groups. 7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel cell component comprises a diffusion media layer. 8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel cell component comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate having a coating thereon. 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 with a proviso that no low contact resistant metal is provided on the bipolar plate. 10. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein no gold is provided over the bipolar plate. 11. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the coating comprises a polymer and electrically conductive filler particles. 12. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the coating comprises graphite. 13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the coating further comprises a second polymer. 14. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel cell component is a carbon composite bipolar plate. 15. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel cell component comprises a diffusion media layer and wherein the providing the fuel cell component comprising carbon and a surface including active groups, comprises exposing the diffusion media layer to an open-air plasma to create the active groups on a surface of the diffusion media layer. 16. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel cell component comprises a bipolar plate having a reactant gas flow field defined in a face thereof by a plurality of lands and channels, and a coating deposited in the channels leaving the lands substantially uncoated, and wherein the carbon is part of the coating.