Hydrogen permeation properties of Pd-coated Pd₃₃Ni₅₂Si₁₅ amorphous alloy membrane

The vast majority of experimental techniques used for the measurements of hydrogen permeability through metallic membranes whose one or both surfaces are covered with a thin Pd film is based on the assumption that a ratio of film-to-membrane thickness is small enough to cause hydrogen flow to be independent of the Pd film thickness. In an attempt to verify this assumption, we have measured the hydrogen flow through the Pd₃₃Ni₅₂Si₁₅ amorphous membrane covered with Pd film of 10, 20, and 30 nm in thickness. Contrary to our expectations, we have found a dramatic decrease in hydrogen flow with the increase in Pd film thickness. Our findings are discussed in terms of potential barrier between the two different phases.