Pd/Al2O3 composite hollow fibre membranes: Effect of substrate resistances on H2 permeation properties

Al2O3 hollow fibres with different asymmetric macrostructures, i.e. various thickness ratios between a finger-like layer and a sponge-like layer, have been prepared by a phase inversion/sintering technique. Such asymmetric hollow fibres are used as substrates on which Pd membrane is deposited directly by an electroless plating (ELP) technique without any pre-treatment on substrate surface. Influences of the substrate macrostructure on hydrogen permeation through the Pd/Al2O3 composite membranes have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The hydrogen permeation through the Pd/Al2O3 composite membranes was not only determined by the Pd membrane thickness, but also by the macrostructural parameters of the substrate, such as effective porosity, mean pore size and pore size distribution etc. The thinner the Pd membrane, the higher the effective porosity is required to alleviate the substrate effect on the hydrogen permeation. Also, the deviation of the pore size is suggested to be around 1.2 for the further improved hydrogen permeation through the composite hollow fibre membranes.