The use of titanium (Ti) bipolar plates in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, with a surface modification on the titanium to reduce voltage losses due to the formation of passive layers, has been demonstrated. An alternative material of titanium bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with and without surface modification was assembled and evaluated. Two different surface modification materials: iridium oxide (IrO2) and platinum (Pt) were investigated respectively. The cell performance was close to the PEM fuel cells using graphite bipolar plates. Titanium bipolar plates can be employed to produce fuel cells with very high volumetric and gravimetric power densities, ideal for portable applications. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.