Enhanced rates of hydrogen absorption resulting from oxidation of Pd or internal oxidation of Pd-Al alloys

It is shown that a convenient method for obtaining very fast rates of H-2 absorption by Pd is by its oxidation or by the internal oxidation of Pd-M alloys where M=a solute more readily oxidizable than Pd such as Al. While the oxidation of Pd enhances the rates it does not affect its Hn solubility because its oxidized layers are rapidly reduced upon exposure to H-2 even at low temperatures, The internal oxidation of Pd-M alloys, gives a matrix of pure Pd containing internal oxide precipitates, e.g., a Pd/alumina composite. The solubility of H-2 in the Pd matrix should be equivalent to that in pure Pd. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.