Mixed conducting BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.15O3-?-Ce0.85M0.15O2-? (M: Y, Gd) dual-phase composites for Hydrogen separation membrane applications

In this work, dual-phase dense composites based on BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.15O3-? (BCZ20Y15)-Ce0.85M0.15O2-? (MDC15, M = Y and Gd) were explored as hydrogen transport membranes. Indeed, the combination of a proton conducting phase (BCZ20Y15) and an electronic conductor (MDC15) in an all-ceramic dense membrane allows a selective H2 separation thanks to the incorporation of H2 in the structure as charge protonic defects and electrons or holes. The working temperatures and durability exhibited by these oxides make them appealing for applications under harsh conditions, allowing the intensification of industrial processes, that enhances the overall efficiency by coupling reaction and separation in a single unit (membrane reactors) [1, 2]. The preparation and the functional assessment performed on these membranes will be presented, highlighting the most important prerequisites for practical applications, namely their transport properties, hydrogen permeation fluxes and stability behaviour under operation conditions, especially in the presence of H2, CO2 and H2S. ____ [1] C. Mortalò, S. Barison, E. Rebollo, M. Fabrizio, Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conducting Membranes for Hydrogen Separation in Membrane engineering for the treatment of gases, Volume 2, 2nd Edition, Ed. E. Drioli, G. Barbieri and A. Brunetti, RSC, in press. [2] E. Rebollo, C. Mortalò, S. Escolástico, S.Boldrini, S. Barison, J. M. Serra, and M. Fabrizio, Energy and Environmental science 8, 3675-3686, (2015).