A -- CORROSION TEST CELL FOR BIPOLAR PLATE MATERIALS

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has developed a corrosion test cell for screening candidate bipolar plate materials for use in PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) fuel cells. The cell has a transparent or translucent cell body having a pair of identical cell body members that seal against opposite sides of a bipolar plate. The cell includes both an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, each on opposite sides of the plate. Each chamber contains a pair of mesh platinum current collectors and a catalyst layer pressed between current collectors and the plate. Each chamber is filled with an electrolyte solution that is replenished with fluid from a much larger electrolyte reservoir. The cell includes gas inlets to each chamber for hydrogen gas and air. As the gases flow into a chamber, they pass along the platinum mesh, through the catalyst layer, and to the bipolar plate. The gas exits the chamber through passageways that provide fluid communication between the anode and cathode chambers and the reservoir, and exits the test cell through an exit port in the reservoir. The flow of gas into the cell produces a constant flow of fresh electrolyte into each chamber. Openings in each cell body member allow electrodes to enter the cell body and contact the electrolyte in the reservoir therein. During operation, while hydrogen gas is passed into one chamber and air into the other chamber, the cell resistance is measured, which is used to evaluate the corrosion properties of the bipolar plate. Advantages of the Technology - This technology can be used to test the anode and cathode surfaces of a cell simultaneously - Users can measure ion concentrations versus time - Using this technology, resistance of the oxide layer versus time can be measured Users of the Technology LANL has been contacted by several fuel cell manufacturers or fuel cell component manufacturers interested in obtaining these cells for use in PEM fuel cell testing and development. Status LANL is seeking parties interested in acquiring commercial license rights to the pending U.S. Patent for the purpose of manufacturing and selling the devices for use is PEM fuel cell testing and development efforts.. Claims for this patent have been allowed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office but the issue date for the patent is still pending. The U.S. Patent application number for the technology is S.N. 09/602,402, filed June 23, 2000 (DOE reference no. S-91,782). No foreign rights are available for this technology. LANL intends to license this technology to a manufacturer with rights to make, use, and sell the technology to meet the needs of those parties currently requesting these cells. LANL requests all responses to this posting be made to the point of contact below no later than September 6, 2002. Questions regarding the solicitation may be directed to the point of contact below as well.