Ceramic proton-conducting membranes

Abstract

Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a ceramic selective membrane, the method comprising:
 applying a ceramic precursor sol to a porous membrane substrate; and   gelling the ceramic precursor sol, using a sol-gel process, to form a selective silica ceramic from the ceramic precursor sol, thereby providing a ceramic selective membrane comprising the selective silica ceramic supported by the porous membrane substrate;   wherein the ceramic precursor sol comprises an alkaline silicate solution.