Fabrication of thin (2 m) pure Ni and Pd-Ni alloy composite membranes by the organic-inorganic activation method for hydrogen separation

In this study, we have reported a new strategy to prepare metal/ceramic membranes that can be used as an alternative to conventional high-cost palladium membranes. For the first time, a uniform Ni layer was deposited using the organic-inorganic activation method via the ELP technique. Although, alloying Pd-Ni resulted in a defect-free thin membrane layer (2 mu m). The H-2 permeation flux of the composite membrane was 1.43 x 10(-2) mol m(-2) s(-1) at 450 degrees C and TMP of 100 kPa with infinite H-2/N-2 selectivity. Stage cut effect as a function of transmembrane pressure (TMP) was assessed in binary mixtures at 450 degrees C. The prepared composite membrane indicated perfect long-time permeance stability for 145 h at 450 degrees C and TMP of 100-300 kPa. The results showed that solution-diffusion is the dominant mechanism in the hydrogen transport through the composite membranes.