HYDROGEN-PERMEABLE METAL MEMBRANE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

摘要

A hydrogen-permeable metal membrane (30) with increased hydrogen flux compared to conventional metal membranes is formed by at least one etching step in which a controlled volume of etchant is used to selectively remove material from surfaces (32, 34) of membrane (30). Without sacrificing membrane selectivity, membrane (30) enables a greater throughput of purified hydrogen. Holes (60) or other defects in membrane (30) can be repaired by the addition of a sealing metal.