Increasing attention is being paid to the use of metallic materials as a replacement for non-porous graphite in bipolar plates (Bps) for polymer exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The main aim of the present study was to investigate how O-2 and H-2 affect the corrosion behavior of 316L stainless steel in simulated anode and cathode environments of a PEM fuel cell. Open circuit potential (OCP) measurements together with potentiodynamic and potentiostatic tests were performed to investigate the corrosion behavior of SS316L in the O-2- and H-2-containing enviromnents. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the morphology of the corroded surface and the corrosion products. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) was used to determine the levels of metal ions in solution after corrosion. The OCP and potentiodynamic tests showed that less corrosion of SS316L took place in a simulated cathode environment because it was easier to passivate SS316L in an O-2-containing environment. However, the potentiostatic tests showed that there is less corrosion in a simulated anode environment, because H+ ions are reduced, and the resulting negative current can provide partial cathodic protection to the SS316L. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.