Hydrogen isotope effect in a Ni32Nb28Zr30Cu10 amorphous membrane

The pressure-composition isotherms and the absorption kinetics of both hydrogen and deuterium were investigated for an amorphous membrane, potentially useful for hydrogen purification and separation in membrane reactors, with atomic composition Ni32Nb28Zr30Cu10. In the temperature range between 294 and 394 °C, the equilibrium pressure between the gas and the solid was higher for deuterium than for hydrogen, with a typical ratio P(D2)/P(H2)?1.5. Moreover, the absorption of H2 is faster than that of D2. Both behaviors of the presently investigated amorphous membrane closely resemble those of the Pd-Ag alloys, that are currently used in membrane reactors and separators