ABSTRACT Recent global interests in developing hydrogen economy generate substantial research and development for hydrogen production worldwide. Pd membranes are especially suited for high temperature hydrogen separation and membrane reactor applications. Alloying Pd with Ag not only suppresses hydrogen embrittlement, but also increases the permeability of the alloy membrane. The main objective of this work was to carry out fundamental studies to understand the properties of the porous stainless steel (PSS), morphologies of Pd and Ag deposits on PSS, and the structural changes of the membrane layer upon heat treatment. Both coating and diffusion and co-plating techniques were employed in the study. The Pd-Ag membranes that had sandwiched Ag layers suffered from very low selectivity due to the voids formed because of high diffusion rate of Ag. Alloy membranes with high selectivity can be prepared by applying intermediate annealing after each Ag deposition. On the other hand, the homogeneity of the alloy depended very much on the thickness of the deposited layers and annealing temperature and time. A stable co-plating bath was developed to co-plate Pd and Ag simultaneously. Pd-Ag membranes were prepared from co-plating bath using ultrasound to accelerate the plating rate.

Creator

• Akis, B. Ceylan

Contributors

• Ma, Yi Hua

Degree

• MS

Unit

• Chemical Engineering

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Language

• English

Identifier

• etd-0430104-113019

Keyword

• Pd-Ag Membranes
• Electroless Plating
• Hydrogen Permeation

Advisor

• Ma, Yi Hua

Defense date

• 2003-10-07

Year

• 2004

Date created

• 2004-04-30

Resource type

• Thesis

Rights statement

• In Copyright