Next Article in Journal
The Impact of Proinflammatory M1 Macrophages on the Proliferation and Expression of Cyclin E2, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases 4 and 7 in Hepatocytes Isolated from a Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Rat Model
Previous Article in Journal
Advances in Pseudostellaria heterophylla Research: Current Status and Future Directions
Previous Article in Special Issue
Recent Advance on Metal Carbides Reinforced Laser Cladding Coatings
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Molecules
Volume 30
Issue 17
10.3390/molecules30173658
molecules-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Improving Anti-Corrosion and Conductivity of NiTi Alloy Bipolar Plate Used for PEMFCs via Nb Alloying

by
Ziyang Niu
1,†,
Yingping Li
1,†,
Yuanyuan Li
1,2,*,
Xiaofen Wang
3,4,
Yumin Pan
3,
Zhuo He
3,
Guohong Zhang
2,
Zhen Wang
2 and
Qiongyu Zhou
3,*
1
The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
2
Analytical and Testing Center, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
3
Key Laboratory of Green Surface Technology and Functional Coatings for Materials, China National Light Industry, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
4
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Molecules 2025, 30(17), 3658; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173658
Submission received: 8 August 2025 / Revised: 3 September 2025 / Accepted: 6 September 2025 / Published: 8 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electroanalysis of Biochemistry and Material Chemistry—2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

NiTi alloy has emerged as a promising bipolar plate (BP) material for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), combining Ti-like corrosion resistance with Ni-like electrical conductivity through its intermetallic characteristics. However, its performance faces greater challenges under aggressive operating conditions (70 °C, F−-containing acidic solution with air bubbling). This study demonstrates that Nb alloying effectively enhances NiTi while preserving its balanced properties. The developed NiTiNb alloy exhibits improved performance with 26% lower corrosion current density (ic) and 29% reduced interfacial contact resistance (ICR) compared to conventional NiTi, effectively overcoming the conventional corrosion–conductivity trade-off in metallic BPs. The alloy also shows superior electrochemical stability and microhardness relative to pure Ti and Ni. These enhancements stem from a unique dual-phase microstructure comprising a NiTi (B2) matrix with continuous β-Nb grain boundary networks. During operation, this structure enables in situ formation of protective TiO2-Nb2O5 films while maintaining conductive Nb/Nb2O5 pathways and metallic Ni domains. The findings establish Nb alloying as a viable optimization strategy for NiTi-based BP substrate in demanding PEMFC applications.
Keywords: NiTiNb alloy; corrosion resistance; interfacial contact resistance; bipolar plate; PEMFC NiTiNb alloy; corrosion resistance; interfacial contact resistance; bipolar plate; PEMFC

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Niu, Z.; Li, Y.; Li, Y.; Wang, X.; Pan, Y.; He, Z.; Zhang, G.; Wang, Z.; Zhou, Q. Improving Anti-Corrosion and Conductivity of NiTi Alloy Bipolar Plate Used for PEMFCs via Nb Alloying. Molecules 2025, 30, 3658. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173658

AMA Style

Niu Z, Li Y, Li Y, Wang X, Pan Y, He Z, Zhang G, Wang Z, Zhou Q. Improving Anti-Corrosion and Conductivity of NiTi Alloy Bipolar Plate Used for PEMFCs via Nb Alloying. Molecules. 2025; 30(17):3658. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173658

Chicago/Turabian Style

Niu, Ziyang, Yingping Li, Yuanyuan Li, Xiaofen Wang, Yumin Pan, Zhuo He, Guohong Zhang, Zhen Wang, and Qiongyu Zhou. 2025. "Improving Anti-Corrosion and Conductivity of NiTi Alloy Bipolar Plate Used for PEMFCs via Nb Alloying" Molecules 30, no. 17: 3658. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173658

APA Style

Niu, Z., Li, Y., Li, Y., Wang, X., Pan, Y., He, Z., Zhang, G., Wang, Z., & Zhou, Q. (2025). Improving Anti-Corrosion and Conductivity of NiTi Alloy Bipolar Plate Used for PEMFCs via Nb Alloying. Molecules, 30(17), 3658. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173658

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop