In this study, polymer bipolar plates for ultra-light polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were fabricated. Various methods for current collecting were applied to ensure electron conductivity of the polymer bipolar plates. Direct wire contact and Ag sputter process were applied. The Ag current collecting layer fabricated by the sputter process showed a well-covered and defectless surface. After preparations of bipolar plates, the effects of current collecting methods of bipolar plates on the electrochemical properties of PEMFCs were systematically investigated. The maximum power density of PEMFCs with the Ag current collecting of layered polymer bipolar plates decreased 37.39% because of increased ohmic resistance. However, the power/weight of PEMFCs with the Ag current collecting of layered polymer bipolar plates increased 27.23% because of the dramatically reduced weight (-50.63%) of bipolar plates compared to the graphite bipolar plates. We affirm that results in this report can provide meaningful insight for portable electrochemical energy devices.
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