Brief review of steam reforming using a metal membrane reactor

Recent studies and development trends of a membrane reformer, which incorporates a metal membrane for hydrogen separation and purification into fuel reformers for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, are outlined. The challenges for fabricating a dense and thin palladium film by compositing to an inorganic porous substance and the research and development of a new and cheaper membrane material in place of the palladium membranes are also briefly introduced.