PdAu membranes supported on top of vacuum-assisted ZrO2-modified porous stainless steel substrates

► A vacuum-assisted ZrO2-modified method was optimized on top of porous SS disks. ► Defect-free PdAu films were deposited on top of the ZrO2-modified PSS disks. ► The PdAuZrO2 composite membranes were stable on hydrogen stream upon heating up to 500 °C. ► A slight Pd surface enrichment takes place under hydrogen permeation experiments.