Market Overview:
The Clemson composite membrane provides robust hydrogen separation from mixed gas streams by transport mechanisms based on mixed ionic (proton) and electronic conduction. The global hydrogen generation market has been valued at $115 Billion as of 2017 and is expected to rise to $154 billion by 2022. This growth is influenced by hydrogen’s use as a fuel source and other applications in the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing industries. Currently, major issues with the process of hydrogen separation involve the cost and stability associated with separation membranes, which generally use expensive metals such as palladium and nickel. Clemson University researchers have designed a cost-effective alternative that implements graphene sheets rather than traditional metals. These novel graphene-ceramic composites are able to lower membrane production costs, provide higher operating temperatures than palladium, and demonstrate greater resistance to oxidation and expansion than nickel. Such improvements will allow for more efficient production of hydrogen, which will provide greater fuel accessibility and lower costs of other processes requiring it.
Application Stage of Development
Hydrogen Gas Generation/Alternative Prototype tested
Advantages
• Graphene is more cost effective than precious metals, reducing expenses associated with membrane separation.
• Composite design improves conductivity, allowing for enhanced separation performance.
• Composite design maintains integrity, reducing issues with thermal expansion during production.
Technical Summary
These novel composites combine graphene and ceramic materials to provide both ionic- (proton) and electronic-conducting pathways that serve to separate hydrogen from gas mixtures. They differ from traditional dense metal membranes by eliminating the use of expensive palladium or nickel metals which operate on a solution and diffusion mechanism of hydrogen transport. Use of graphene allows for improved conductivity and reduced thermal expansion over its nickel counterparts. This improvement is achieved in part by the structure of the graphene lattices whose hexagonal arrangement provide a highly stable and reactive structure. Compared to the current palladium-containing composites, the graphene composites can operate at higher maximum operating temperatures. The presence of graphene also provides improved sinterability via SPS process, allowing for the composites to be created with an already existing production method.
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Inventors: Dr. Kyle Brinkman
Patent Type: Provisional
Serial Number: 62/575,001
CURF Ref No: 2014-127