In this study, polyaniline is deposited onto mesoporous carbon-silica-coated 304 stainless steel using electropolymerization method. Variation of the electropolymerization time and applied potential can affect the growth of polyaniline, and lead to different structural and electrochemical properties of the films. Nitrogen-containing groups are successfully introduced onto the mesoporous carbon-silica film by pyrolyzing treatment under N(2) atmosphere and the electrical conductivity is improved observably compared with the carbon-silica film. The electrochemical properties of the mesoporous carbon-silica-polyaniline films and nitrogen-containing carbon-silica composite films are examined by using potentiodynamic polarization, potentiostatic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The corrosion tests in 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) system display that the carbon-silica-polyaniline films show the optimal protective performance. However, according to potentiostatic polarization process, nitrogen-containing carbon-silica film with a water contact angle 95 degrees is extremely stable and better for the protection of stainless steel in simulated fuel cell environment compared to carbon-silica-polyaniline film. Therefore, the nitrogen-containing carbon-silica-coated 304 stainless steel is a promising candidate for bipolar plate materials in PEMFCs. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.