Novel SrCe0.75Zr0.20Tm0.05O3−δ membrane for hydrogen separation

Dense ceramic membranes with protonic and electronic conductivity have attracted considerable interest in recent years. In this paper, the powders of SrCe0.75Zr0.20Tm0.05O3−δ were synthesized via the liquid citrate method, and the membranes of SrCe0.75Zr0.20Tm0.05O3−δ were prepared by pressing followed by sintering. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the phase structure of both the powder and sintered membrane. The microstructure of the sintered membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hydrogen permeation through the SrCe0.75Zr0.20Tm0.05O3−δ membranes was carried out using gas permeation setup at 900 °C. Hydrogen permeation flux of SrCe0.75Zr0.20Tm0.05O3−δ membrane reaches up to 0.042 mL/min cm2 at H2 partial pressure of 0.4 atm. The hydrogen permeation fluxes obtained in this paper are similar to that of SrCe0.95Tm0.05O3−δ, and Zr doping can increase mechanical strength of SrCe0.75Zr0.20Tm0.05O3−δ membranes and the resistance to reducing circumstance.