Relationship between activation energy for hydrogen permeation and hydrogen permeation properties of amorphous Cu50Zr50 and Cu65Zr35 membranes

We investigate the role of hydrogen solubility and diffusivity on the activation energy for hydrogen permeability and the relationship between the hydrogen permeability and resistance to hydrogen embrittlement in amorphous membranes, Cu50Zr50 and Cu65Zr35. The membrane with the lower activation energy for permeation showed higher hydrogen permeability, but it showed lower durability under hydrogen atmosphere. This relationship between the two properties is discussed on the basis of the nature of the short-range ordered (SRO) structures constituting amorphous membranes under hydrogen ambient.