Importance

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Abstract

A bipolar plate for an apparatus having a stacked configuration, said apparatus comprised of a plurality of electrochemical cells and employing a solid electrolyte, said bipolar plate comprised of a porous titanium plate (1) having a parallel groove structure (3), said bipolar plate further comprised of a non-porous, solid titanium plate (2) strongly welded to plate (1) at contact loci (4), wherewith channels (5) are present, and said bipolar plate further comprised of a surface layer or coating (6) comprised of a material which is a catalyst for electrolytic reactions. A method of manufacturing the subject bipolar plate, comprising the following: Powder metallurgical manufacture of the porous titanium plate (1), and bonding of plate (1) to the solid titanium plate (2) by sintering. Further development of the bipolar plate by applying a non-porous, solid graphite and PVF composite plate (7) with a parallel groove structure (8), and further applying a porous graphite and PVF composite plate (10), wherewith channels (9) are present. Combining of the plates by hot pressing, sintering, or adhesive bonding, to form a compact, mechanically strong electrically conducting whole.

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First Claim