Influence of palladium particles impregnation on hydrogen behavior in meso-porous silicon

The composite materials based on porous silicon (PS) with palladium particles incorporated inside the pores were prepared by means of Pd electroless deposition and characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Adsorption and desorption of molecular hydrogen at 50 kPa and ambient temperature as well as chemical extraction of H-2 during the reaction of initial PS and PS + Pd composites with water and base were studied. Reversible uptake of molecular H-2, probably due to the formation of palladium hydride, was detected for PS + Pd composites, otherwise the initial PS was found to be inactive to the H-2 under ambient conditions. The composites PS + Pd react with water much slower and release less H-2 in compare with initial PS, probably due to partial pore blockage by Pd. However, the pretreatment of the composites in gaseous H-2 increases the volume of H-2 evolving in the reaction with H2O at ambient temperature. (C) 2009 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.