Patent ID: 7396559

Claim:
A method of making an electrically conductive element, comprising: providing a conductive metal substrate comprising stainless steel for use in a fuel cell having a surface susceptible to passivation in the presence of oxygen by forming oxides, wherein oxides are formed thereon; applying an acidic treatment solution to said surface to remove said oxides and reduce contact resistance of said surface to less than about 10 mOhm-cm 2 under a compressive force of greater than or equal to about 200 psi (about 1400 kPa), wherein said acidic treatment solution comprises an anionic species selected from the group: fluorine (F − ), chlorine (Cl − ), bromine (Br − ), iodine (I − ), sulfate (SO 4 2− ), nitrate (NO 3 − ), and mixtures thereof, wherein said anionic species is present at about 1×10 −1 to about 1×10 −6 molarity; rinsing said surface to remove substantially all of said treatment solution; and coating said surface with a corrosion resistant electrically conductive coating.