Hydrogen permeable, intermetallic diffusion barriers used in body-centered cubic metal membranes

A method for fabricating a composite metal membrane for stable and effective permeation of hydrogen during hydrogen purification to produce high purity hydrogen, comprising:

• (a) forming a metal foil layer from a body-centered cubic group 5 metal;
• (b) depositing a group 4 nitride on the metal foil layer to form at least one hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barrier;
• and
• (c) depositing a platinum group metal on the at least one hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barrier to form at least one catalyst layer.

A composite metal membrane for stable and effective permeation of hydrogen during hydrogen purification to produce high purity hydrogen, comprising:

• a metal foil layer, comprising a body-centered cubic metal;
• a first platinum group metal catalyst layer;
• a second platinum group metal catalyst layer;
• a first group 4 nitride layer forming a first hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barrier, the first group 4 nitride layer disposed between a first side of the metal foil layer and the first platinum group metal catalyst layer;
• and
• a second group 4 nitride layer forming a second hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barrier, the second group 4 nitride layer disposed between a second side of the metal foil layer and the second platinum group metal catalyst layer.