US Patent 7575827 Conductive coatings for PEM fuel cell electrodes

A bipolar plate for use in a stack of fuel cell modules includes a bipolar plate that has at least one surface containing a metal alloy oxidizable to form a metal oxide having a surface resistance no greater than about 0.007 ohm-cm2. The metal alloy is oxidized to form a layer of metal oxide having a thickness of about 10−8 cm to about 10−2 cm and a resistivity no greater than about 107 ohm-cm. In addition to their use in fuel cells, the alloys can be employed to form conductive surfaces of electrical contacts useful for various electrical devices.