PULSED ELECTRODEPOSITION SYNTHESIS AND HYDROGEN ABSORPTION PROPERTIESOF NANOSTRUCTURED PALLADIUM-IRON ALLOY-FILMS

Nanostructured pure Pd and Pd-Fe alloy films for hydrogen separation a nd membrane reaction were created by pulsed electrodeposition. Short p ulse durations, long times between pulses, and a plating temperature o f 60 degrees C were found to produce nanostructured crack-free films. Films with Fe content greater than 20 atom % were stable against grain growth to 400 degrees C, and all of the Pd-Fe films synthesized did n ot experience the alpha-->beta phase transition. The Pd-Fe nano-alloys had very fast hydrogen absorption kinetics at room temperature, witho ut the need for activation.