Hydrogen-permeable metal membrane and method for producing the same
AssigneeIdaTech, LLC
InventorDavid J. Edlund
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Abstract
A hydrogen-permeable metal membrane with increased hydrogen flux compared to conventional metal membranes is disclosed. Without sacrificing selectivity, the membrane enables a greater throughput of purified hydrogen. A method for preparing the invention includes at least one etching step in which a controlled volume of etchant is used to selectively remove material from the membrane's surface. Methods for repairing holes or other defects in the membrane are also disclosed.
Claims31
A hydrogen-permeable metal membrane, comprising:
- a hydrogen-permeable metal membrane formed at least substantially from a hydrogen permeable material and having an etched region and an unetched region, and further wherein the etched region of the membrane has a thickness that is less than the thickness of the membrane in the unetched region.
A method for forming a hydrogen-permeable metal membrane, comprising:
- providing an absorbent medium, a hydrogen-permeable metal membrane having first and second opposed surfaces, and an etchant adapted to remove portions of the hydrogen-permeable membrane when applied to the membrane;
- placing the absorbent medium on a selected one of the first and the second surfaces of the membrane to define an application region;
- and
- applying a volume of the etchant to the absorbent medium, wherein the medium at least substantially confines the etchant to an application region and distributes the etchant throughout the region.
A method for preparing a hydrogen permeable metal membrane, comprising:
- providing an etchant and a hydrogen permeable metal membrane including a pair of opposed surfaces;
- and
- applying the etchant to a region of at least one of the surfaces of the membrane to reduce the thickness and increase the surface roughness of the membrane in the region compared to the thickness and surface roughness of the membrane prior to applying the etchant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.