Patent ID: 6171712
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: C23C,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a thin, flat metal membrane of palladium or palladium/copper alloy useful as a diaphragm in fuel reformers for separating the hydrogen from the other gaseous products of the reforming reaction, the method comprising:(a) providing a substrate having a flat surface, at least a portion of which is coated with a parting material capable of being dissolved in a solvent;(b) sputtering a metal layer of the palladium or palladium/copper alloy onto the parting material under an inert gas atmosphere at a pressure such that the sputtered film formed on the substrate is essentially free of tensile and compressive stress; and(c) subjecting the parting material to the solvent to dissolve the parting material and release the flat sputtered metal film yielding a membrane of palladium or palladium/copper alloy.