Cermet-type hydrogen separation membrane obtained from fine particles of high temperature proton-conductive oxide and palladium

A mixed ionic and electronic conducting hydrogen separation membrane, which consisted of proton-conductive oxide and metallic palladium, was fabricated. A porous alumina tube was employed as a support, and proton-conductive oxide particles were introduced into a microporous top layer of the support by an impregnation method. Palladium particles were deposited into the same porous layer by chemical vapor deposition. Hydrogen permeated preferentially via the membrane thus obtained with a hydrogen permeance (PH2) of 1.2 x 10-9 mol.m-2.s-1.Pa-1 at 873 K. Selectivity for hydrogen (PH2/PN2) increased with the operating temperature due to an increase in proton conductivity of the membrane, and PH2/PN2 = 5.7 was attained at 873 K