Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-12-2025

Abstract

Palladium (Pd) membranes have gained significant attention for their ability to selectively separate hydrogen, a critical process for clean energy applications such as fuel cells and hydrogen storage. However, challenges such as grain growth, sintering, hydrogen embrittlement, and film uniformity limit their scalability and long-term stability. This thesis focuses on the controlled synthesis, deposition, and stability of Pd nanoparticles to optimize membrane performance for hydrogen separation. This work investigates solution-phase synthesis of Pd nanoparticles, focusing on temperature, precursor concentration, and solvent composition as key variables influencing particle growth and dispersion. Pd membranes were fabricated using nanoparticle deposition onto porous supports, and the effects of annealing on crystallinity, structural evolution, and long-term stability were studied. Results indicate that higher temperatures lead to larger particle sizes and potential sintering, while optimized synthesis conditions improve nanoparticle dispersion and uniformity. Annealing enhances crystallinity but also promotes grain growth, affecting membrane performance over time. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of Pd nanoparticle synthesis and membrane fabrication, contributing to the advancement of high-performance Pd membranes for hydrogen purification. Future work will focus on further optimizing deposition techniques and improving long-term membrane stability to enable real-world applications in clean energy and industrial hydrogen separation.

Keywords

palladium membranes, nanoparticles, Pd nanoparticles, solution phase synthesis, hydrogen separation

Sponsors

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Chemical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Chemical and Biological Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Nicholas Jaegers

Second Committee Member

Hien Pham

Third Committee Member

Bianca Ceballos

Fourth Committee Member

Abhaya Datye

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