Preparation of composite palladium-silver alloy membranes by photocatalytic deposition

Pd–Ag alloy membranes (0.4 μm) have been prepared on porous TiO2/Al2O3 support via a photocatalytic co-deposition technique. Using this technique the membrane composition can be precisely controlled and the alloying of Pd–Ag carried out more easily. X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy analysis of the Pd–Ag composite membranes indicated that the metal existed in the form of alloy and membrane surface appeared homogeneous. A gas permeation experiment was conducted under temperature of 693 K and pressure of 0.01–0.06 MPa. Hydrogen permeance and selectivity of hydrogen/nitrogen (H2/N2) were 1 × 10− 5 mol m− 2 s− 1 Pa− 1 and 7.1–7.4, respectively.