Fabrication of novel Pd–Ag–Ru/Al2O3 ternary alloy composite membrane with remarkably enhanced H2 permeability

Novel dense Pd–Ag–Ru/α-Al2O3 ternary alloy composite membrane is fabricated by simultaneous electroless plating of Pd, Ag and Ru onto the outside surface of porous α-Al2O3 substrate, followed by annealing. The composition of fabricated dense Pd–Ag–Ru/α-Al2O3 ternary alloy composite membrane has been identified as Pd69Ag30Ru1/α-Al2O3 by ICP-AES analysis. The traditional Pd–Ag/α-Al2O3 binary alloy composite membrane and Pd/α-Al2O3 composite membrane are also fabricated for their comparison with Pd–Ag–Ru/α-Al2O3 membrane. The ternary alloy composite membrane of Pd69Ag30Ru1/α-Al2O3 exhibits unique high H2 permeability in comparison with Pd/α-Al2O3 membrane or with Pd–Ag/α-Al2O3 binary alloy membrane. The permeability of Pd69Ag30Ru1/α-Al2O3 membrane is about three to four times higher than that of Pd/α-Al2O3 membrane.