• Membrane development for CO2, H2 and O2 separation, including:

  • High temperature proton conductors for H2 separation

  • High temperature oxygen ionic conductors for O2 separation

  • Dual phase and facilitated transport membranes CO2 separation

  • Pd-based metal alloy membranes for H2 separation

  • Polymeric and hybrid membranes for CO2 separation and natural gas sweetening

• Galvanostatic membranes applied in fuel cells and electrolysers and electrocatalytic converters

• Testing and characterisation of small reactors, membranes and membrane materials

• Studies of membranes and components exposed to harsh chemical environments

Fabrication facilities for inorganic systems

The laboratory integrates various shaping and deposition techniques with the necessary quality control tools for qualification of materials and components along the process chain. These include ventilated benches and hoods for synthesis and conditioning of powders via various milling processes. Shaping of membranes is carried out by water-based extrusion or calendaring and tape casting (using organic or water-based solvent). The 40 tons Loomis piston extruder is in a clean room facility (ISO class 7) and is equipped with an automatic capping system to produce close-end tubes, as well as an automatic cutting tool. The parts are delivered on an automatic air flow transport belt, thereby limiting contamination and surface damage. Deposition techniques include a semi-automatic 3D spray-coater, a semi-automatic screen-printer and a multi-sample holder dip-coater, which are also located in a clean room. Furnace facilities for annealing and sintering of planar membranes (up to 15 cm x 15 cm) and long tubes (up to 70 cm) are available up to 1600 °C. Quality control methods include rheology study, particle size and shape analysis, humidity measurement of feedstock, leak detection of sintered parts, etc.

Magnetron sputtering is a versatile tool for deposition of thin films of metal/alloys and oxides. The laboratory is equipped with two state-of-the-art magnetron sputtering systems; one for sputtering on large areas, up to 50 x 30 cm, while the other system contains two magnetron sputtering chambers connected via a central transfer chamber, offering the possibility to sputter metals/alloys, oxides, nitrides, oxynitrides with in situ crystallisation at a maximum deposition temperature of 800 °C. Depositions can be done on flat samples with various shapes (fitting into a sample holder for a 6'' wafer) or tubes with maximum length 10 cm. Deposition at glancing angle (GLAD) can be done to obtain thin films with micro-porous structures. The machine is equipped with DC, pulsed DC and RF power supplies and a wafer etching station. Co-deposition from three different targets is possible. The sputtering units are placed in the clean room facility.

Testing units for inorganic and polymeric membranes

A well-equipped membrane permeation characterisation laboratory with various units allows studies of permeation up to 150 bars and 1000 °C (e.g. for studies of Pd-based, polymeric-based and ceramic membranes in water gas shift, methane steam reforming processes, as well as post combustion capture and natural gas sweetening). The gas mass flow and pressure controllers are regulated by a PC and the gas composition of feed and permeate are monitored continuously by MS and GC units. An advanced gas distribution infrastructure for multiple gasses (O₂, H₂, N₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, Ar, He, etc.) and mixtures is installed. The infrastructure has a furnace with three heating zones enabling to test tubular membranes of 10 to 15 cm length, and an impedance spectrometer for accurate measurement of samples with low impedance.

Automated atmospheric and pressurised thermogravimetric analysers (TGA)

Both TGA units have automated gas feeding, switching and mixing systems (H₂, CO₂, CO, CH₄, N₂, H₂O, Ar) that enable multiple cycle sorption measurements at temperatures from ambient to 1000 ºC. The high-pressure TG (HPTG – 30 bar) is placed in a laboratory with a separate ventilation system which allows experiments in a sulphur environment.

Sulphur laboratory for material, component and cell testing

This unique facility allows for investigation of materials from ambient conditions to high pressure (30 bars) and high temperature (1100 °C) conditions in the presence of harsh chemicals (e.g. H₂S for investigation of membrane and adsorbent materials for use in power cycles based on coal, sour natural gas and biomass as fuel). It has a high degree of automation for gas control and monitoring. It provides data for studies of reactions kinetics, transport properties and stability of materials, e.g. used as adsorbents and membranes. Also, stability against corrosion for critical components can be studied with this type of apparatus. The facility is also equipped with a fuel cell testing unit and necessary potentiostat units. An advanced gas distribution infrastructure for multiple gasses (O₂, H₂, N₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, Ar, He, etc.) and mixtures is installed.

The sulphur laboratory includes a well-equipped membrane permeation characterisation setup, a sorbent test station, and a high-pressure TG (thermo-gravimetric analysis). The laboratory is very flexible and is equipped with a separate ventilation system and alarms for safe operation.

Major equipment

A major part of this infrastructure contains various experimental techniques used to evaluate the performance of electrochemical cells, sorbents and membranes. All techniques offered are modern and the results obtained are expected to be of high scientific quality. The experiments can be conducted under realistic conditions at high temperatures, pressures, and under high partial pressures of steam. Various gases are available. Also, tests in a sulphur environment (or other special gases) can be carried out in a separate laboratory with dedicated setups. The equipment is monitored and used only by skilled technicians and scientists. The choice of the right experiment and experimental conditions for a specific test can also be established through discussion with our experts.

Many of the equipment and test setups are considered unique. We have, as an example, analysed extremely high hydrogen fluxes that it is possible to obtain using ultra-thin Pd-Ag membranes (see publication list below) in our laboratory.

We offer experiments to be carried out in one location. Skilled scientists and technicians are available to assist visiting researchers. Beside the infrastructure itself, additional standard laboratories are available where sample preparation and other tasks can be performed. Several GC, MS and IR gas analysers are available, if needed. A desk with internet access will be available during the stay.

SINTEF Industry has implemented and maintains a quality management system that fulfils the requirements of the standard NS-EN ISO 9001:2008 within research and development in materials technology, advanced materials and nanotechnology, applied chemistry and biotechnology, oil and gas, and green energy and process industry.