Figures 1 A and 1 B, a schematics cross section of fuel cells incorporating the flow field plates of this embodiment is provided. Fuel cell 10 includes flow field plates 12, 14. Flow field plate 12 includes surface 16 and surface 18. Surface 16 defines channels 20 and lands 22.

Figure 1 B provides a depiction in which flow field plate 12 is a bipolar plate. In this variation, 18 defines channels 24 and lands 26. Similarly, flow field 14 includes surface 30 and surface 32. Surface 30 defines channels 36 and lands 38.

Figure 1, graphene-containing layer 50 is disposed over and contacts surface 16. In a variation, graphene-containing layer 50 includes surface 52 having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In one refinement, graphene- containing layer 50 has a thickness from about 1 to about 10 atomic layer. …

Figure 2, a magnified cross sectional view of channel 20 is provided. Surfaces 80, 82, 84 of graphene-containing layer 50 provide exposed surfaces in channel 20. Advantageously, these surfaces of graphene-containing layer 50 are hydrophilic, having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In …

Figure 3, a schematic cross section illustrating additional surfaces of fuel cell bipolar plates coated with graphnene-containing layers is provided. In this variation, one or more of surfaces 18, 30, and 32 are coated with a graphene-containing layer 50. As set forth above, in connection with the …

Figure 4, a pictorial flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of forming the flow field plates set forth above is provided. In step a), metal 9 P005794-RDF-CHE plate 12 is pre-conditioned prior to deposition of non-crystalline carbon layer 98. During such preconditioning oxides on the surface of …

Figure 5, a refinement of a sputtering deposition system for depositing the graphene-containing layers set forth above is provided. A useful sputtering system is the Teer UDP 650 system.

Figure 6 provides a schematic of a ALD system. ALD system 140 includes source 142 which provides a carbon containing reactant to ALD deposition chamber 144. Suitable carbon containing gases include aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, amines (e.g., t- butyl amine, isopryopyl amine), …

Figure 7 provides a field emission scanning electron micrograph of a graphene containing layer deposited on stainless steel. The porous nature of the untreated graphene-containing layer is evident from the micrograph. [0044] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it …

Figures 1 A and 1 B, a schematics cross section of fuel cells incorporating the flow field plates of this embodiment is provided. Fuel cell 10 includes flow field plates 12, 14. Flow field plate 12 includes surface 16 and surface 18. Surface 16 defines channels 20 and lands 22.

Figure 1 B provides a depiction in which flow field plate 12 is a bipolar plate. In this variation, 18 defines channels 24 and lands 26. Similarly, flow field 14 includes surface 30 and surface 32. Surface 30 defines channels 36 and lands 38.

Figure 1, graphene-containing layer 50 is disposed over and contacts surface 16. In a variation, graphene-containing layer 50 includes surface 52 having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In one refinement, graphene- containing layer 50 has a thickness from about 1 to about 10 atomic layer. …

Figure 2, a magnified cross sectional view of channel 20 is provided. Surfaces 80, 82, 84 of graphene-containing layer 50 provide exposed surfaces in channel 20. Advantageously, these surfaces of graphene-containing layer 50 are hydrophilic, having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In …

Figure 3, a schematic cross section illustrating additional surfaces of fuel cell bipolar plates coated with graphnene-containing layers is provided. In this variation, one or more of surfaces 18, 30, and 32 are coated with a graphene-containing layer 50. As set forth above, in connection with the …

Figure 4, a pictorial flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of forming the flow field plates set forth above is provided. In step a), metal 9 P005794-RDF-CHE plate 12 is pre-conditioned prior to deposition of non-crystalline carbon layer 98. During such preconditioning oxides on the surface of …

Figure 5, a refinement of a sputtering deposition system for depositing the graphene-containing layers set forth above is provided. A useful sputtering system is the Teer UDP 650 system.

Figure 6 provides a schematic of a ALD system. ALD system 140 includes source 142 which provides a carbon containing reactant to ALD deposition chamber 144. Suitable carbon containing gases include aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, amines (e.g., t- butyl amine, isopryopyl amine), …

Figure 7 provides a field emission scanning electron micrograph of a graphene containing layer deposited on stainless steel. The porous nature of the untreated graphene-containing layer is evident from the micrograph. [0044] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it …

Figures 1 A and 1 B, a schematics cross section of fuel cells incorporating the flow field plates of this embodiment is provided. Fuel cell 10 includes flow field plates 12, 14. Flow field plate 12 includes surface 16 and surface 18. Surface 16 defines channels 20 and lands 22.

Figure 1 B provides a depiction in which flow field plate 12 is a bipolar plate. In this variation, 18 defines channels 24 and lands 26. Similarly, flow field 14 includes surface 30 and surface 32. Surface 30 defines channels 36 and lands 38.

Figure 1, graphene-containing layer 50 is disposed over and contacts surface 16. In a variation, graphene-containing layer 50 includes surface 52 having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In one refinement, graphene- containing layer 50 has a thickness from about 1 to about 10 atomic layer. …

Figure 2, a magnified cross sectional view of channel 20 is provided. Surfaces 80, 82, 84 of graphene-containing layer 50 provide exposed surfaces in channel 20. Advantageously, these surfaces of graphene-containing layer 50 are hydrophilic, having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In …

Figure 3, a schematic cross section illustrating additional surfaces of fuel cell bipolar plates coated with graphnene-containing layers is provided. In this variation, one or more of surfaces 18, 30, and 32 are coated with a graphene-containing layer 50. As set forth above, in connection with the …

Figure 4, a pictorial flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of forming the flow field plates set forth above is provided. In step a), metal 9 P005794-RDF-CHE plate 12 is pre-conditioned prior to deposition of non-crystalline carbon layer 98. During such preconditioning oxides on the surface of …

Figure 5, a refinement of a sputtering deposition system for depositing the graphene-containing layers set forth above is provided. A useful sputtering system is the Teer UDP 650 system.

Figure 6 provides a schematic of a ALD system. ALD system 140 includes source 142 which provides a carbon containing reactant to ALD deposition chamber 144. Suitable carbon containing gases include aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, amines (e.g., t- butyl amine, isopryopyl amine), …

Figure 7 provides a field emission scanning electron micrograph of a graphene containing layer deposited on stainless steel. The porous nature of the untreated graphene-containing layer is evident from the micrograph. [0044] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it …

Figures 1 A and 1 B, a schematics cross section of fuel cells incorporating the flow field plates of this embodiment is provided. Fuel cell 10 includes flow field plates 12, 14. Flow field plate 12 includes surface 16 and surface 18. Surface 16 defines channels 20 and lands 22.

Figure 1 B provides a depiction in which flow field plate 12 is a bipolar plate. In this variation, 18 defines channels 24 and lands 26. Similarly, flow field 14 includes surface 30 and surface 32. Surface 30 defines channels 36 and lands 38.

Figure 1, graphene-containing layer 50 is disposed over and contacts surface 16. In a variation, graphene-containing layer 50 includes surface 52 having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In one refinement, graphene- containing layer 50 has a thickness from about 1 to about 10 atomic layer. …

Figure 2, a magnified cross sectional view of channel 20 is provided. Surfaces 80, 82, 84 of graphene-containing layer 50 provide exposed surfaces in channel 20. Advantageously, these surfaces of graphene-containing layer 50 are hydrophilic, having a contact angle less than about 30 degrees. In …

Figure 3, a schematic cross section illustrating additional surfaces of fuel cell bipolar plates coated with graphnene-containing layers is provided. In this variation, one or more of surfaces 18, 30, and 32 are coated with a graphene-containing layer 50. As set forth above, in connection with the …

Figure 4, a pictorial flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of forming the flow field plates set forth above is provided. In step a), metal 9 P005794-RDF-CHE plate 12 is pre-conditioned prior to deposition of non-crystalline carbon layer 98. During such preconditioning oxides on the surface of …

Figure 5, a refinement of a sputtering deposition system for depositing the graphene-containing layers set forth above is provided. A useful sputtering system is the Teer UDP 650 system.

Figure 6 provides a schematic of a ALD system. ALD system 140 includes source 142 which provides a carbon containing reactant to ALD deposition chamber 144. Suitable carbon containing gases include aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, amines (e.g., t- butyl amine, isopryopyl amine), …

Figure 7 provides a field emission scanning electron micrograph of a graphene containing layer deposited on stainless steel. The porous nature of the untreated graphene-containing layer is evident from the micrograph. [0044] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it …