The aim of this internship is to develop coatings for bipolar plates in PEMFC fuel cells. The coating will have to protect the bipolar plate from corrosion and have suitable surface properties (wettability) to ensure gas and water transport.

Background: PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) fuel cells are a promising solution for clean energy production. However, their large-scale implementation is still limited by factors such as performance, durability and manufacturing cost.

Subject: This internship will focus on the development of bipolar plates, the component that ensures gas distribution and current collection. The main objective will be to develop anticorrosion coatings, organic or inorganic, for stainless steel bipolar plates, the aim is to improve their performance and durability. This will involve :
i) develop different types of coating by chemical (electrografting) or physical (sputtering - PVD) means on stainless steel substrates
ii) characterize coatings: microstructure, chemical composition, corrosion by voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, wettability by contact angle, etc.
iii) transpose the best coating(s) onto metal bipolar plates produced by 3D printing: ensure good adhesion and low interfacial contact resistances
iv) study the performance of in-situ coatings with a reference electrode membrane assembly, using voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Candidate profile: Master 2 student or equivalent (engineer) in materials science or physics-chemistry. Knowledge of electrochemistry would be appreciated

Laboratory: CEA Paris-Saclay, LICSEN laboratory (Laboratory for Innovation in Surface Chemistry and Nanosciences).