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We provide industry with high quality bipolar fuel cell plates to support sustainable technologies,
unlocking the power of performance.
bipolar
fuel cell
plates
Bipolar fuel plates are a key element in a fuel cell (a device that converts chemical potential energy into electrical energy), by stacking precisely manufactured plates on top of each other to create a large surface area for chemical reactions to take place. The chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to create water releases electrons and warmth. The electricity is used to power a variety of transportation vehicles such as cars and trains. Besides transportation bipolar fuel plates can be used to generate electricity and warmth for the heating of residential buildings.
Hydrogen -and so, fuel plates – is the missing link in solving the storage of energy without polluting the planet.
A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical potential energy into electrical energy. Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) is one specific fuel cell technology that is highly suited to automotive applications due to its energy conversion efficiency, package compactness and operating temperature.
Bipolar fuel cell plates constitute one of the most important parts of the PEM and AFC fuel cell stack with multifunctional character.
They distribute fuel, gas and oxygen over the whole active surface area, join together the anode of one cell to the cathode of another, provide electrical conduction between cells, facilitate fluid management within the cells, remove heat from the active areas and more.
our solutions
As a leading manufacturer in customised micro precision parts, Tecan provides the industry with high precision bipolar fuel cell plates to support sustainable technologies
- Fast prototyping
- Higher electrical and thermal conductivity
- Edge and burr-free
- Double-sided etching to optimise surface area
- Consistency in high volume
- Wide range of materials and thin plate design
our bipolar fuel plate solutions
Our unparalleled technology capabilities enable us to provide the sustainability and renewables industry with the highest quality, high-precision metallic bipolar fuel cell plates which are cost-efficient to produce and which feature superior properties.
When made using traditional methods, bipolar fuel cell plate solutions lack structural integrity, have low power output, thick bulky plates, high manufacturing cost and are vulnerable to rust. Bipolar fuel plates manufactured using chemical etching meet the challenge to produce high precision and consistency.
Tecan is a high-precision fuel cell manufacturer, offering a wide range of materials and plating as well as complex design options. Chemical etching (also known as acid etching) allows us to use a large variety of materials and by using double-sided etching we can maximise material surface area.
discover more in our bipolar fuel cell plates application note
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Bipolar plates are the structural plates stacked between the individual cells in a fuel cell or electrolyser. They distribute hydrogen and oxygen across the reaction surface, conduct electrical current between cells, and manage water and heat. They are one of the highest-cost and most performance-critical components in a fuel cell stack.
Yes. Tecan manufactures bipolar plates in Weymouth, UK, using photochemical etching, backed by more than 50 years of precision-etching experience.
Bipolar plates are typically made from stainless steel, titanium or nickel alloys. Stainless steel and titanium are common choices for PEM fuel cells and electrolysers because they combine corrosion resistance with good electrical conductivity.
Photochemical etching produces the complex flow-field channels in a bipolar plate without mechanical stress, heat distortion or burrs, which preserves the integrity of thin metal. Because the process is toolless, the flow-field geometry can be changed freely between iterations, making it ideal for prototyping and design development.
Yes. The same etched flow-field plates are used in both PEM and SOEC electrolysers for hydrogen production, and Tecan manufactures plates for both fuel cell and electrolyser applications.
Tecan etches bipolar plates in material from 25µm to 2mm thick, with a minimum feature size of approximately 20µm and a typical tolerance of ±10% of material thickness above 0.15mm and ±15µm minimum below 0.15mm.
Yes. Because the photochemical etching process is toolless and photo-defined, Tecan can produce bipolar plate prototypes directly from drawings within days, then scale the same design to volume with no new tooling.
Send your drawings, material, quantity and tolerances via the Request a Quote page and Tecan will provide a quotation.
Tecan is a leading manufacturer of bipolar plates for fuel cells, producing etched flow-field plates by photochemical etching for fuel cell developers, backed by over 50 years of precision-etching experience.
Yes. Tecan supplies etched bipolar plates to fuel cell manufacturers, working as a co-development partner from prototype through to volume production.
Tecan etches bipolar plates in material from 25µm to 2mm thick, holding a typical tolerance of ±10% of material thickness above 0.15mm and ±15µm minimum below 0.15mm. Every plate is developed to individual specification.