Development of a H2-permeable Pd60Cu40-based composite membrane using a reverse build-up method

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2021-10, Vol.46 (73), p.36291-36300
• Main Authors: Shinoda, Yasunari, Takeuchi, Masakazu, Dezawa, Norikazu, Komo, Yasuhiro, Harada, Takuya, Takasu, Hiroki, Kato, Yukitaka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hydrogen separation; Palladium composite membranes; PdCu alloy
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.08.127

A new reverse build-up method is developed to fabricate an economical H2-permeable composite membrane. Sputtering and electroplating are used for the formation of a membrane comprised of a 3.7-μm-thick Pd60Cu40 (wt.%) alloy layer and a 13-μm-thick porous Ni support layer, respectively. The H2-permeation measurements are performed under the flow of a gaseous mixture of H2 and He at 300–320 °C and 50–100 kPa of H2 partial pressure. The H2/He selectivity values exceed 300. The activation energy at 300–320 °C is 10.9 kJ mol−1. The H2 permeability of the membrane is 1.25 × 10−8 mol m−1 s−1 Pa−0.5 at 320 °C after 448 h. The estimated Pd cost of the proposed membrane is approximately 1/8 of the cost for a pure Pd60Cu40 membrane. This study demonstrates that the proposed method allows the facile production of low-cost, Pd-based membranes for H2 separation. •The porous Ni support layer was formed by electroplating.•The membrane has a two-layered structure comprising a Pd60Cu40 alloy and porous Ni support.•The composite membrane has a higher cost-benefit than the rolled membrane.•This method is promising for further thinning the membrane and reducing cost.