NOVELTY - The method involves providing a plate selected from anode plates, cathode plates, bipolar plates (105), in which each plate has gas flow channels. A diffusion media (110) is provided in contact with gas flow channel side of plate to form an assembly. A gaseous precursor of the conductive material is introduced into assembly using a chemical vapor infiltration process. The gaseous precursor is infiltrated into diffusion media and gas flow channels of plates. A coating of conductive material is deposited on diffusion media, gas flow channels of plate, or both.    USE - Method of depositing conductive material such as carbon, titanium nitride, and titanium oxynitride on diffusion media carbon fibers and bipolar plates of fuel cell assembly (claimed) used in vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The stacked diffusion media layers and bipolar plate components can be coated either uncompressed or while compressed, and optimized to minimize cost by balancing the added cost of stack compression with the cost saving of reduced electrical resistance. This coating process is expected to increase the contact area between the diffusion media layers and bipolar plates in order to reduce the electrical resistance. The reduction in electrical contact resistance between the diffusion media layers and bipolar plate increases overall fuel cell performance, especially at high current density. The diffusion media layers and bipolar plates are mechanically bonded together, so that the stack assembly is simplified. The deposition of the carbon coating at the intersection points between fibers within the diffusion media substrate increases the micro-contact area between fibers. Compressing the diffusion media layers against bipolar plate and depositing the conductive coating onto micro-contact areas between the diffusion media layers and bipolar plate increases the micro-contact area of a larger number of contact points and reduces interfacial resistance. The diffusion media layers and bipolar plate can be compressed using a standard compression fixture, then after the side plates are secured in their compressed positions, the solid endplates can be removed to enable precursor gas infiltration during the subsequent coating process. The chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process allows the precursor to penetrate into the pores of the sample so that a uniform coating can be deposited. The separator plates are helpful to obtain a more uniform deposition and to minimize process time. The gaseous precursor for the coating has a high enough diffusivity so that it can be deposited throughout the entire interfacial area, in the absence of a pressure differential along the flow channels and within the diffusion media internal pores during the CVI process. The desired coating uniformity and thickness can be achieved with a variety of precursor gas species having different diffusivities, by placing separator plates between each assembly, controlling precursor pressure and temperature, as well as carefully locating the assembly or stack of assemblies within the deposition chamber. Thus the uniformly low contact resistance with the diffusion media layer is achieved, any required corrosion protection for the plate material is provided, adequate reactant and product water transport through the flow channels in maintained, and deposition cost and process time is minimized.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) assembly with conductive coating; and    (2) fuel cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows the cross-section side-view of a stack of diffusion media layers and bipolar plates prepared for deposition of the conductive material.    End plates (100)    Bipolar plates (105)    Diffusion media (110)    Highly porous separator layers (115)    Porous compression distribution mesh (120)