Hydrogen permeable palladium-silver alloy membrane supported on porous ceramics

Abstract The hydrogen permeability and selectivity of a composite membrane consisting of miscible palladium-silver alloy film supported on the outer surface of a porous alumina cylinder were investigated. The membrane showed much greater flux than commercially obtainable palladium-based membranes for hydrogen separation. The high hydrogen flux was due to both the thinness of the film and its high hydrogen solubility. In addition, hydrogen embrittlement was suppressed by alloying the thin palladium film with silver, and 100% hydrogen selectivity was retained even at relatively low temperatures.