Component for an electrochemical cell, and electrochemical cell

Abstract

The invention relates to a component (1, 1') for an electrochemical cell (10), the component being in the form of a bipolar plate, which, as seen in the sectional image perpendicular to the plane of the bipolar plate, has, at least in the region of an active field (2), a base (1a) with a wave-shaped three-dimensional design such that a wave crest (WB) follows a wave trough (WT) and vice versa, having at least one first open-porous layer (1b), which is flat and is designed to cover a first face of the base (1a), and having at least one second open-porous layer (1c), which is flat and is designed to cover a second face of the base (1a), wherein at least one reinforcing structure (3) is provided on both faces of the base (1a) between two adjacent wave peaks (WK) in each case, the reinforcing structure being integrally bonded to the respective adjacent open-porous layer (1b, 1c) starting from the base (1a), and an installation space through which a fluid can flow and which has the reinforcing structure (3) is formed between the base (1a) and the respective open-porous layer (1b, 1c).

Description

[0001] Component for an electrochemical cell and electrochemical cell

[0002] The invention relates to a component of an electrochemical cell in the form of a bipolar plate, which, viewed in cross-section perpendicular to a plane of the bipolar plate, has a fluid-tight base plate with a wave-like three-dimensional design, at least in the area of ​​an active field, such that a wave crest follows a wave trough and vice versa. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing the component and an electrochemical cell, in particular an electrolyzer.

[0003] DE 10 2021 213 997 A1 describes a bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell in the form of a fuel cell, with a wave-shaped metal foil as a base plate, which is arranged between two flat, impermeable electrodes and directly connected to them.

[0004] The additive manufacturing of components for a fuel cell stack or electrolyzer is known, for example, from DE 10 2013 108 413 A1. Laser, electron beam, and steam jet sintering are mentioned therein as manufacturing technologies. Additive manufacturing processes are also said to be suitable for joining components of a cell stack.

[0005] The additive manufacturing of fuel cell components is also addressed in US 2008 / 0008826 A1. Here, powder layers are solidified by laser sintering, with the aim of producing areas with different porosities. At least two layers of the arrangement described in US 2008 / 0008826 A1 have different compositions and different thicknesses.

[0006] A method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell device, described in DE 10 2018 100 772 A1, involves producing a functional layer on a cell support by direct material application. The cell support is a cell separator that forms the outer boundary of an electrochemical cell. The cell support can be made of stainless steel and have a corrosion protection layer. Functional layers, to be built up successively on the cell support, are designed, in particular, as a gas distribution layer and a catalyst layer. According to DE 10 2018 100 772 A1, it is also possible to produce an electrochemical functional layer with a gradient, wherein the gradient relates to the geometric design and / or materials, and wherein the gradient is produced in the stacking direction and / or perpendicular to the stacking direction.

[0007] According to DE 102014226 567 A1, at least a portion of a bipolar plate of a fuel cell system is to be manufactured using additive layer manufacturing. To create a flow field, material is to be selectively applied only to projections of a specific topology on the base plate of the bipolar plate. In this way, contacts, for example made of titanium, nickel, or chromium, are to be created.

[0008] US patent 2005 / 0221150 A1 deals with the additive manufacturing of honeycomb structures for electrochemical cells. The process involves solidifying a metal powder containing nickel and chromium through laser sintering. Additionally, the metallic layers may contain bronze as a binder.

[0009] The invention is based on the objective of further developing the production of layer-by-layer, i.e. additively, manufactured components for electrochemical cells compared to the aforementioned prior art, whereby the required installation space for the component is to be reduced.

[0010] This problem is solved according to the invention by a component according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11. Likewise, the problem is solved by an electrochemical cell with the features of claim 13. The embodiments and advantages of the invention explained below in connection with the component or the entire electrochemical cell also apply mutatis mutandis to the manufacturing method according to the invention and vice versa.

[0011] According to the invention, the component of an electrochemical cell, which is in the form of a bipolar plate, has, in cross-sectional view perpendicular to a plane of the bipolar plate, at least in the area of ​​an active field, a fluid-tight base plate with a wave-like three-dimensional structure, such that a wave crest follows a wave trough, and vice versa. Furthermore, the bipolar plate has at least one first open-porous layer, which is planar and covers a first side of the base plate. Furthermore, the bipolar plate has at least one second open-porous layer, which is planar and covers a second side of the base plate.

[0012] On both sides of the base plate, at least one reinforcement structure is present between two adjacent wave crests, which is materially connected to the respective adjacent open-porous layer starting from the base plate, and wherein a construction space containing the reinforcement structure is designed to allow flow between the base plate and the respective open-porous layer.

[0013] The active field is the area of ​​a component in an electrochemical cell that is adjacent to areas where electrochemical reactions take place. In an electrolyzer for the electrolysis of water, this would therefore be the area where the conversion of process water into hydrogen and oxygen occurs.

[0014] When used in an electrochemical cell, the base plate can be exposed to fluid flow on one or both sides, which simultaneously serves to cool the base plate. A separate cooling channel within the base plate, which typically increases the thickness of such a base plate for mechanical reasons, is therefore unnecessary.

[0015] The open-porous layers are preferably arranged at a distance from the wave crests of the base plate and are connected to the base plate only via the reinforcement structures. This allows for a minimization of the installation space of the bipolar plate, enables fluid flow in the active field even perpendicular to the wave crests, and increases the flow area over which a membrane adjacent to the respective open-porous layer can be exposed to the flow.

[0016] An electrochemical cell, in particular an electrolysis cell, comprising at least one component according to the invention in the form of a bipolar plate, in particular a plurality of components according to the invention, has proven successful.

[0017] A bipolar plate designed in this way for an electrolyzer for the electrolysis of water can therefore be cooled with process water on one or both sides of the base plate. Anode cooling is particularly preferred. A separate cooling channel within the base plate is not required. The process water flows along the base plate past and / or alongside the reinforcement structure(s). The reinforcement structure(s) increase the flexural stiffness of the component and also ensure the flatness of the open-porous layers, each of which contacts an adjacent membrane, in particular a polymer electrolyte membrane. The open-porous layers allow the process water used for cooling to reach the adjacent membrane, where it is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen.

[0018] The method for manufacturing the component according to the invention in the form of the bipolar plate involves printing it in a 3D printing process, in particular a laser powder bed printing process, on a narrow plate edge, i.e., in a standing position. Reference is made to the unpublished German patent application No. 10 2024 1 12 690.6, which describes such a method in detail.

[0019] The additive manufacturing of bipolar plates, where multiple bipolar plates are built up vertically on a 3D printing platform starting from a narrow edge, allows for the creation of particularly intricate and complex structures that would be impossible to produce on a 3D printing platform starting from a single, horizontally oriented large plate. For example, recesses for creating overhangs in 3D printing can only be produced with low quality if the plates are built up sequentially, i.e., horizontally. This is because when the powdered material is melted by a laser, the laser beam penetrates to an undesirable depth, forming a structure similar to a stalactite cave ceiling above the recess. The greater the desired overhang length and the shallower the angle of inclination of the resulting solidified structure, the lower the print quality.

[0020] Furthermore, horizontal positioning is uneconomical when 3D printing plate arrangements because, based on an identically dimensioned printing surface, far fewer or even only one plate arrangement can be printed simultaneously due to space constraints, in contrast to a vertical printing process.

[0021] The component is formed in one piece from the base plate and the parallel, open-porous, flat layers and reinforcing structures. This saves assembly time when putting together an electrochemical cell and helps to reduce contact resistance, since there is a close material bond within the component and no electrical losses occur, as is the case at contact points where plates are merely pressed together in conventional electrochemical cells. This allows for highly efficient operation of the electrochemical cell.

[0022] The base plate of the component preferably has a thickness DG in the range of 0.4 to 1.2 mm. Each open-porous layer preferably has a thickness Ds in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 mm. This results in a preferred overall thickness of the component, in the form of a bipolar plate, in the range of 0.6 to 2 mm.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the bipolar plate has a frame surrounding the active field, which has first openings for supplying reaction media and cooling medium, and second openings for discharging reaction products and heated cooling medium. The wave crests in the active field are arranged in a straight line between the first and second openings. This frame is also manufactured using additive manufacturing. Preferably, the frame has reinforcement around its circumference and surrounding each opening. This reinforcement consists of a solid and fluid-tight material accumulation. The reinforcement in the area of ​​the openings serves to channel the cooling medium and the operating media and to withstand pressure.The reinforcement around the perimeter of the bipolar plate serves to provide a fluid-tight and pressure-resistant shell when the electrochemical cell is assembled. The reinforcement around the perimeter of the frame or around the openings for operating media has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm to ensure reliable fluid tightness and pressure resistance.

[0024] Preferably, the bipolar plate is 3D printed starting from the narrow plate edge adjacent to the first openings in the direction of the second openings, or vice versa.

[0025] Within the first and second openings, at least one flow-through grid structure is preferably arranged for mechanical reinforcement of the bipolar plate and bonded to it. The grid structure is preferably formed by a honeycomb structure. The grid structure serves to reduce residual stresses in 3D printing, thus ensuring printability. Furthermore, the grid structure serves to reduce the weight of the bipolar plate and counteract internal pressure within an electrochemical cell.

[0026] The component is preferably an entirely metallic component. Different metals can be used for the formation of the base plate, the open-porous layered sections, and the reinforcing structures.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcement structure(s) is / are formed by at least one continuous support wall running parallel to a wave crest and / or by a plurality of support columns.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, the reinforcement structure(s) have a trunk-like area connected to the base plate and a treetop area with branches extending towards the adjacent open-porous layer, with each branch being connected to one of the open-porous layers.

[0029] Each open-porous layer is preferably designed as a grating that allows fluids to flow through it.

[0030] The component's printing process can be followed by heat treatment. Optionally, the outer surfaces of the open-porous layers on both sides of the bipolar plate are ground. An additional straightening process can also be performed. Similarly, an electrically conductive coating, for example, made of a precious metal such as platinum, can be applied to at least a portion of one or both sides of the bipolar plate. This allows for the coating of the outer first and second open-porous layers. The coating is preferably applied using a PVD or PACVD process. Optionally, plasma etching of the surfaces to be coated can be performed prior to the coating process to remove existing oxide layers and thus ensure good adhesion and electrical contact between the coating and the component.By applying a coating including prior plasma etching of existing oxide layers, an electrical resistance of the entire bipolar plate, i.e. from polymer electrolyte membrane to polymer electrolyte membrane, can be achieved as if it were made entirely of gold.

[0031] In particular, the open-porous layers can be multilayered cathode-side and anode-side layers of the subsequent electrochemical cells. The first and second layers are preferably relatively thin and finely porous. The pores of the finely porous layers preferably have a pore diameter of < 80 pm, particularly in the range of 60 to 80 pm.

[0032] Openings, representing the pores of the layers, are introduced into the first or second layer during additive manufacturing, and optionally also subsequently. In the latter case, additional fine porosity can be created, for example, by plasma drilling, laser drilling, or etching. Fundamentally, pores in open-porous layers can have either a geometrically defined shape or geometrically undefined shapes with a stochastic size distribution, whereby in any case, the layers exhibit permeability, i.e., open porosity.

[0033] For an open-porous layer, a defined geometry, such as the aforementioned grid, is particularly suitable. During operation of the electrochemical cell, this grid transmits forces between adjacent cell components and simultaneously provides free flow cross-sections for fluids or operating media. The open-porous layers form a flat contact surface for an adjacent component within the electrochemical cell, such as a proton-permeable polymer electrolyte membrane or a gas diffusion layer made of carbon paper or carbon fleece. Due to the 3D printing process, the flat contact surface exhibits a roughness that increases its surface area. Roughness values ​​in the range of Rz16 have proven effective in this context.

[0034] The membrane is applied to the bipolar plate subsequently, either before or during the assembly of the entire electrochemical cell stack. Unlike the membrane, this finely porous, open-porous layer is additively manufactured and its electrical and corrosion properties are specifically tailored to the operating conditions of the electrochemical cells and to the characteristics of the membrane. Within the cell stack, the membrane is positioned in a plane that perpendicularly intersects the successive 3D-printed layers created during additive manufacturing. Deionized water, which is split into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis, is used as the process water. This process water also serves as a cooling medium for the bipolar plate, with cooling occurring on both sides of the base plate within the electrolyzer.

[0035] Regardless of the external shape of the bipolar plate, whether purely planar or more complex, it can be constructed from several different materials. In particular, this could be titanium on the anode side and stainless steel on the cathode side. Alternatively, the entire bipolar plate, or even all additively manufactured components of the electrochemical cell, can be made from the same material, for example, a light metal, especially titanium. The titanium alloy Ti6Al4V is preferred, as it is heat-treatable and forms a dense oxide layer. This increases the impact strength, which is an important factor in pressurized systems, and reduces material embrittlement caused by hydrogen.

[0036] The open-porous layers that form the surface of the bipolar plate on both sides can be made of the same material as the base plate. This means, in particular, that all anode-side layers can be additively manufactured from titanium and all cathode-side layers from stainless steel. Alternatively, for example, the base plate and the reinforcement structure(s) can be made of copper. This improves heat dissipation from the bipolar plate.

[0037] One advantage of the one-piece bipolar plate, aside from the efficient, reliable manufacturing methods and the resulting low electrical resistance, lies particularly in the fact that the special additive manufacturing process eliminates the need for seals between individual half-cells of electrochemical cells, especially electrolysis, redox flow, or fuel cells. Furthermore, the prefabrication of the complete, materially heterogeneous, sandwich-like bipolar plate facilitates a highly efficient, geometrically precise, and reliable assembly of the entire cell stack.

[0038] An electrochemical cell according to the invention, in particular an electrolyzer, comprises at least one cell stack with two end plates, between which at least one bipolar plate according to the invention and at least two polymer electrolyte membranes are arranged. Due to the small number of individual parts, such a cell exhibits a high degree of tightness against the operating media and can be manufactured quickly and efficiently.

[0039] In particular, each end plate is additively manufactured in one piece, with each end plate having an electrical contact arrangement.

[0040] A schematic process for the manufacture of an electrochemical cell can be outlined as follows.

[0041] As a first step, at least one bipolar plate is manufactured using a 3D printing process, in particular a laser 3D printing process.

[0042] In a second step, the bipolar plate is subjected to grinding on both sides.

[0043] Optionally, a third step involves laser drilling to optionally create further pores in the open-porous layer layers.

[0044] The fourth step involves a subsequent cleaning of the bipolar plate.

[0045] In a fifth, optional step, one or both sides of the bipolar plate can be coated. A PVD process, for example, can be used for this purpose. Catalytically active precious metals or precious metal alloys, such as platinum and / or indium, have proven effective as coating materials.

[0046] In a sixth step, seals are inserted. This can be done by inserting O-rings or using an injection molding process.

[0047] In a seventh step, a cell stack is now built from a plurality of electrochemical cells that are clamped together.

[0048] Various embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a component in the form of a bipolar plate.

[0049] Fig. 2 the bipolar plate according to figure 1 without first open-porous layer,

[0050] Fig. 3 shows a three-dimensional view in section and in the area of ​​the active field through the bipolar plate according to Figure 1 in area AA,

[0051] Fig. 4 shows a section through the bipolar plate according to Figure 1 in region AA,

[0052] Fig. 5 shows another section through a bipolar plate in the area of ​​the active field,

[0053] Fig. 6 shows a three-dimensional view according to Figure 2 in a partial section,

[0054] Fig. 7 shows a section of an electrochemical cell in cross-sectional view, comprising at least two components in the form of bipolar plates,

[0055] Fig. 8 shows a three-dimensional view of the bipolar plate according to Figures 1 to 3 in partial section,

[0056] Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal section through component 1 according to Figure 1 ,

[0057] Fig. 10 shows the construction of two components, here in the form of bipolar plates shown only in part, in a 3D printing process on a common printing table, and

[0058] Fig. 11 shows an enlarged view of an open-porous layer of the bipolar plate according to Figure 1.

[0059] Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a component 1 in the form of a bipolar plate. A first open-porous layer 1b is visible, the outline of which simultaneously defines the location of the active field 2. The bipolar plate has first openings 5a, which allow the supply of reaction media and cooling medium to the active field 2. The first openings 5a are mechanically reinforced with honeycomb-shaped lattice structures 6. The bipolar plate also has second openings 5b, which allow the removal of reaction products and heated cooling medium from the active field 2. The second openings 5b are also mechanically reinforced with honeycomb-shaped lattice structures 6. A frame area 4 encompasses the active field 2 as well as the first and second openings 5a, 5b.The bipolar plate is not shown to scale here, as the distance between the first openings 5a and the second openings 5b, or the length of the active field 2 in the direction of flow, is usually longer than the width of the bipolar plate.

[0060] Fig. 2 shows the bipolar plate according to Figure 1 without the first open-porous layer 1b, thus allowing a view of the underlying base plate 1a and the reinforcement structures 3 bonded to it. The base plate 1a has a wave-like three-dimensional design, such that a wave crest WB follows a wave trough WT and vice versa. A space containing the reinforcement structure 3 between the base plate 1a and the respective open-porous layer 1b, 1c (compare Figure 3) runs along both sides of the base plate along the wave crests WK and is permeable to reaction and cooling medium. Here, the wave crests WK are arranged in a straight line in the active field 2 between the first openings 5a and the second openings 5b, but could also run in a serpentine pattern between them.

[0061] Fig. 3 shows a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the bipolar plate according to Fig. 1 in region AA within the active field 2. The base plate 1a, the first open-porous layer 1b, and the second open-porous layer 1c are now visible in detail. Reinforcing structures 3 are also visible, featuring a trunk-like area 33 connected to the base plate 1a and a crown-like area 34 with branches extending towards the open-porous layers 1b and 1c, with each branch being materially bonded to one of the open-porous layers 1b and 1c.

[0062] Fig. 4 shows a section through the bipolar plate according to Figure 1 in region AA. The same reference numerals as in Figure 3 denote identical elements. The thickness of the base plate 1a is denoted by DG and ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 mm. The thickness of each open-porous layer 1b, 1c is denoted by Ds and ranges from 0.1 to 0.4 mm.

[0063] Fig. 5 shows another section through a bipolar plate in the area of ​​the active field.

[0064] 2, which, as a reinforcement structure 3, has two continuous support walls 31 running parallel to a wave crest WK. Furthermore, a large number of support columns 32 are present.

[0065] In Figures 3 to 5, a membrane 7 is arranged adjacent to the two open-porous layer layers 1b and 1c in each electrolyzer. During operation, process water flows through the free space between the base plate 1a and the respective layer layer 1b and 1c, passing over or along the reinforcement structures. The process water, acting as the reaction medium, also reaches the surface of the adjacent membrane 7 through the open-porous layer layers 1b and 1c. Simultaneously, the process water serves as a cooling medium for the base plate 1a.

[0066] Fig. 6 shows a three-dimensional view of Figure 2 in a partial section. The same reference numerals as in Figure 2 denote identical elements.

[0067] Fig. 7 shows a section of an electrochemical cell 10 comprising at least two components 1, 1' in the form of bipolar plates. The section shows the area of ​​the bipolar plate with the first openings 5a and a part of the active field 2, compare Fig. 1. The same reference numerals as in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 denote identical elements. Between the bipolar plates, adjacent to the components 1, 1', are the seals 9a, 9b, which are arranged as insert seals between the components 1, 1' or which are injection-molded onto the respective component 1, 1' and firmly bonded to it. The two bipolar plates each have sealing lugs 8 which, when pressed together, form a fluid-tight seal with the seals 9a, 9b. A membrane 7, in particular in the form of a polymer electrolyte membrane, is placed between the two bipolar plates in the area of ​​the active field 2.The bipolar plate arranged at the top in Figure 7 contacts the upper side of the membrane 7 with the second open-porous layer 1c. The bipolar plate arranged at the bottom in Figure 7 contacts the underside of the membrane 7 with the first open-porous layer 1b. Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional view of the electrochemical cell 10 according to Figure 7 in partial section at the transition between the active field 2 in the direction of the second openings 5b.

[0068] Fig. 9 shows a complete longitudinal section through the electrochemical cell 10 according to Figures 7 and 8 from one narrow plate edge 11 to the opposite narrow plate edge 11 .

[0069] Fig. 10 shows the parallel and simultaneous build-up of two components 1, shown here only partially as bipolar plates, in a 3D printing process on a common print bed DT. The illustration serves to clarify the printing direction DR on the print bed DT with respect to the alignment of the wave crests WK of the base plate 1a parallel to the printing direction DR. A new powder layer is applied to the upper surface of the already 3D-printed components 1, facing away from the print bed DT, as shown, and solidified using a laser. Different materials can be used side by side for the base plate 1a, the open-porous layer layers 1b, 1c, and the reinforcing structures 3.

[0070] Fig. 11 shows an enlarged view of an open-porous layer 1b, 1c of the bipolar plate according to Figure 1, which forms a grid. The reinforcing structures 3 (compare Figures 3 and 4) are arranged beneath the grid, which connect the respective open-porous layer 1b, 1c to the base plate 1a in a metallurgical bond.

[0071] List of reference signs

[0072] 1, 1' component, bipolar plate

[0073] 1a Base plate

[0074] 1 b first open-porous layer

[0075] 1c second open-porous layer

[0076] 2 Active field

[0077] 3 Reinforcement structure

[0078] 4 Frame area

[0079] 5a first openings

[0080] 5b second openings

[0081] 6 Lattice structure

[0082] 7 Membrane

[0083] 8 Sealing nose

[0084] 9a, 9b Seal

[0085] 10 electrochemical cell

[0086] 11 Narrow slab edge

[0087] 31 Retaining wall

[0088] 32 Support column

[0089] 33 Stem-like area

[0090] 34 tree canopy area

[0091] WB Wellenberg

[0092] WT Wellental

[0093] WK Wave Comb

[0094] DG thickness of the base plate

[0095] The thickness of the open porous layer(s)

[0096] DR pressure direction

[0097] DT printing table

Claims

Patent claims 1. Component (1, 1') of an electrochemical cell (10) in the form of a bipolar plate, which, viewed in cross-section perpendicular to a plate plane of the bipolar plate, has at least in the area of ​​an active field (2) a base plate (1a) with a wave-like three-dimensional design, such that a wave crest (WB) follows a wave trough (WT) and vice versa, and with at least one first open-porous layer (1b), which is planar and covers a first side of the base plate (1a), and with at least one second open-porous layer (1c), which is planar and covers a second side of the base plate (1a), wherein on both sides of the base plate (1a) at least one reinforcing structure (3) is present between two adjacent wave crests (WK), which extends from the base plate (1a) to the respective adjacent open-porous layer (1b).1 c) is materially bonded and wherein a construction space having the reinforcement structure (3) between the base plate (1 a) and the respective open-porous layer (1 b, 1 c) is designed to allow flow.

2. Component (1 , 1 ') according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate (1a) has a thickness (DG) in the range of 0.4 to 1.2 mm.

3. Component (1 , 1 ') according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each open-porous layer (1 b, 1 c) has a thickness (Ds) in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 mm.

4. Component (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bipolar plate has a frame area (4) surrounding the active field (2), which has first openings (5a) for supplying reaction media and cooling medium and second openings (5b) for removing reaction products and heated cooling medium, wherein the Wave crests (WK) in the active field (2) are arranged in a straight line between the first openings (5a) and the second openings (5b).

5. Component (1 , 1 ') according to claim 4, wherein at least one flowable grid structure (6) is arranged within the first openings (5a) and the second openings (5b) for the mechanical reinforcement of the bipolar plate and is materially bonded to it.

6. Component (1 , 1 ') according to claim 5, wherein the lattice structure (6) is formed by a honeycomb lattice structure.

7. Component (1 , 1 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is an entirely metallic component.

8. Component (1 , 1 ') according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reinforcement structure (3) is formed by at least one continuous support wall (31 ) running parallel to a wave crest (WK) and / or by a plurality of support columns (32).

9. Component (1 , 1 ') according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reinforcement structure (3) has a trunk-like area (33) connected to the base plate (1a) and a tree crown area (34) with branches extending in the direction of the open-porous layer (1 b, 1 c), wherein each branch is connected to one of the open-porous layer (1 b, 1 c).

10. Component (1 , 1 ') according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each open-porous layer (1 b, 1 c) is designed as a grating.

11. A method for manufacturing a component (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bipolar plate is printed in a 3D printing process while standing on a narrow plate edge (11).

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the bipolar plate is 3D printed starting from the narrow plate edge (11) adjacent to the first openings (5a) in the direction of the second openings (5b), or vice versa.

13. Electrochemical cell (10), in particular electrolysis cell, comprising at least one component (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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