In the TICOB project, novel titanium composite bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers are to be developed and optimized. With the new class of materials produced by extrusion, the typical structure of the bipolar plate required for the electrolyzer can be manufactured cost-effectively and in a material-saving manner in a single process step. The aim of the project is to develop the material in several stages until it is suitable for use as a structured bipolar plate with a flow field, the quality of which is not inferior to pure Ti bipolar plates in terms of realistically tested service life.
Technical challenges are the lower specific electrical conductivity and the higher gas permeability of the composite material compared to titanium, which are to be overcome by process technology during production and by coatings using physical vapor deposition (PVD). A special focus is placed on the corrosion resistance or stability of the electrical contact of the composite material to the porous transport layer (PTL).
In addition to physical, electrochemical and general materials science investigations of the composite, modifications of the polymer and the metallic phase, rapid electrochemical tests and electrolysis tests with planar composite bipolar plates, theoretical modeling also supports the shaping of the flow field, which must take into account the boundary conditions of compression molding as well as those of the coating conditions on flanks. Durability studies are performed on selected compositions of the material, coating and structuring using electrolysis tests. Finally, the technical evaluation will lead to a techno-economic and ecological analysis. Subject to positive results, the aim is to transfer the project to a pre-series product in the near future.