CORROSION RESISTANT FUEL CELL TERMINAL PLATES

摘要

The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell having a terminal collector plate element that conducts electrical current from the stack. The terminal plate has an electrically conductive region and an electrically non conductive region of the surface. The non-conductive region is coated with a corrosion resistant coating that comprises either a passivation layer, a corrosion-resistant polymeric layer, or both. Optionally, the conductive region of the terminal plate may be protected from oxidation, by coating with an oxidation-resistant metal layer. The oxidation-resistant layer may be further coated with a conductive oxidation-resistant polymeric layer. Other preferred aspects of the present invention include methods of treating the terminal plate to resist corrosion and oxidation while still maintaining electrical conductivity.