Influences of pH value, temperature, chloride ions and sulfide ions on the corrosion behaviors of 316L stainless steel in the simulated cathodic environment of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 272; pp. 448 - 456
• Main Authors: LI, D. G, WANG, J. D, CHEN, D. R, LIANG, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 25.12.2014
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Austenitic stainless steels; Chloride ions; Corrosion; Corrosion mechanisms; Density; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Heat resistant steels; Ion concentration; Metals. Metallurgy; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Simulation; Stainless steels; Sulfides; Austenitic stainless steel; Temperature; Electrochemical impedance spectra; Ions; 316L stainless steel; Sulfides; Mott―Schottky plot; Corrosion; Bipolar plate; Chlorides; pH; Capacitance; Environment; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Stainless steel-316L; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.06.121

316L stainless steel is in the passive state in a simulated cathodic environment, and the passivity of 316L SS is enhanced with increasing pH value, decreasing temperature, decreasing chloride ions and sulfide ions concentrations. Mott-Schottky plots show that the passive films appear a p-n heterojunction, and the donor and acceptor densities reach 10 super(22) cm super(-3), showing a highly defective character of the passive film. The donor and acceptor densities increase with increasing temperature, increasing chloride ions and sulfide ions concentrations, while they decreased with increasing pH value. The decreased passivity and the increased doping density may be beneficial to the conductivity of the passive film, but they adversely affect the protectiveness of the passive film toward corrosion.