NOVELTY - The method comprises forming (300) a sol gel mixture by mixing a weak acid and a composition including two metal oxide precursors, applying (302) the sol gel mixture to a surface of a fuel cell plate, condensing (304) the sol gel mixture by exposure to air at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, drying the fuel cell plate having the suspension applied on it, and immersing (306) the sol gel mixture in water at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form a porous, hydrophilic and conductive film on the surface of the fuel cell plate.    USE - The method is useful for coating a surface of a fuel cell plate.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of economically providing the highly hydrophilic and uniform coating on the surface of the fuel cell plate thus improving the performance, longevity and stability of the fuel cell, reducing or preventing flooding at low current density conditions and preventing potential cell voltage drop.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method comprises forming (300) a sol gel mixture by mixing a weak acid and a composition including two metal oxide precursors, applying (302) the sol gel mixture to a surface of a fuel cell plate, condensing (304) the sol gel mixture by exposure to air at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, drying the fuel cell plate having the suspension applied on it, immersing (306) the sol gel mixture in water at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form a porous, hydrophilic and conductive film on the surface of the fuel cell plate, and pretreating the surface of the fuel cell plate via a surface etching process and/or an electroplating process. One of the metal oxide precursors is configured to be hydrolyzed by the weak acid to form a mixed metal oxide framework with an other of the metal oxide precursors that have organic functional group that is not hydrolyzed by the weak acid. The immersion step activates the sol gel mixture. The step of drying the fuel cell plate is accomplished by: exposing the fuel cell plate to ambient air for a predetermined amount of time; and exposing the fuel cell plate to a temperature (80-200 degrees C) higher than that of the ambient air for an other predetermined amount of time. The predetermined temperature of the water is 50-100 degrees C. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a coating for a fuel cell plate; and    (2) a fuel cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a flow diagram of a method for forming a coating on a fuel cell plate.    Forming a sol gel mixture by mixing a weak acid and a composition including two metal oxide precursors (300)    Applying the sol gel mixture to the surface of the fuel cell plate (302)    Condensing the sol gel mixture by exposure to air at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time (304)    Immersing the sol gel mixture in water at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form a porous, hydrophilic and conductive film on the surface of the fuel cell plate. (306)