Palladium-based membrane alloys for hydrogen separation from gas mixtures
 
N.B. Kolchugina, N.R. Roshan, S.V. Gorbunov
 
Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 49, Moscow, 119334 Russia
 
The hydrogen separation from hydrogen-containing gas mixtures in using Pd-based membranes is the single, currently available, single-stage method for manufacturing high-purity hydrogen, ≥99,9999 vol.%, which is fulfilled at lowest energy and operational costs. The method is considered among the most advanced technologies at the expense of the highest selectively and separation rate. The knowledge about the application of molecular hydrogen for the antioxidative protection of an organism in cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonology in the case of acute and chronical pneumonia, therapy of acute and chronical infections and other fields of medicine is based on the modern concept about the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of hydrogen. The actuality of research related to designing palladium alloys and membranes based on them, which effectively and stably operate in the course of selective separation of high-purity hydrogen, also is determined by demands for high-purity hydrogen as the fuel for fuel cells, in micro- and nanoelectronics, fiber optics, etc. The rate of hydrogen penetration through a membrane, its strength and stability during operation is the most important characteristics of Pd-based membranes. In the present study, the preparation method of thin membranes and the combination of their membrane characteristics of Pd-based membrane materials alloyed with Y, Sm, Lu, Pb, and Co are considered.