Title: Potential applications of amorphous/metallic glassy alloys as hydrogen-permeable membranes for hydrogen production and bipolar plates for PEFC

Authors: Shin-ichi Yamaura, Masanori Yokoyama, Hisamichi Kimura, Akihisa Inoue

Addresses: Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2–1–1 Katahira, Sendai 980–8577, Japan. ' Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2–1–1 Katahira, Sendai 980–8577, Japan. ' Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2–1–1 Katahira, Sendai 980–8577, Japan. ' Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2–1–1 Katahira, Sendai 980–8577, Japan

Abstract: The potential of amorphous/metallic glassy alloys as hydrogen-permeable membranes for hydrogen production and as bipolar plates for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) was investigated in this paper. Firstly, the hydrogen permeation of the melt-spun (Ni_0.6Nb_0.4)₇₀Zr_30-xTa_x (x = 5, 10, 15, 20 at%) alloys was measured. As a result, it was found that the hydrogen permeability of the alloys decreased with the Ta content. However, degradation during the permeation test of the alloy with 10 at%Ta was smaller than that with 5 at%Ta. Therefore, it can be concluded that Ta addition stabilises the permeation behaviour, preventing significant degradation over time, despite the fact that Ta addition does not affect the hydrogen permeability of the alloys. Secondly, the Ni₆₅Cr15₁₅P₁₆B₄ metallic glassy alloy was produced by melt-spinning in air. The bipolar plate was successfully produced by hot-pressing with dies in a supercooled liquid state. It was shown that this alloy could be a good candidate for a bipolar plate material for PEFC.

Keywords: amorphous alloys; metallic glass; melt-spinning; hydrogen permeation; bipolar plates; hydrogen production; polymer electrolyte fuel cells; PEFC.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNHPA.2009.023828

International Journal of Nuclear Hydrogen Production and Applications, 2009 Vol.2 No.1, pp.69 - 77

Published online: 13 Mar 2009 *

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