The group has also developed a prototype device based on this membrane that can attach directly to a gas pipeline to supply hydrogen for fuel cells using city gas as the source.

The cylindrical membrane is roughly 3mm in diameter and is composed of three layers of ceramic materials with progressively smaller pores. The inner layer is made from multiporous alumina with pore sizes of roughly 150 nanometers. Surrounding this is a layer made from a finer-grained ceramic with 4-8nm pores. The outer layer is made from amorphous silica with pore sizes of around 0.3nm. Attached to this layer are catalysts such as nickel and palladium.

When methane gas and steam are flowed down the outside of the membrane, the catalysts drive a reaction that decomposes the methane to yield hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The pores of the amorphous silica are only large enough to allow the passage of hydrogen molecules, which can be recovered from inside the cylinder.

The catalysts are so tightly attached to the membrane that the reaction to generate hydrogen can be carried out at a temperature of around 500 C, which is 300 degrees lower than normal.

The JFCC will continue its research with the goal of having practical systems ready in fiscal 2020 that can be used to supply hydrogen from city gas to fuel cells in homes and businesses, as well as fuel cell cars at hydrogen filling stations.