A pre-treatment technique was developed to facilitate the electroless deposition of Pd layers onto ZrO2-TiO2 ceramic membrane surfaces in the preparation of novel multi-functional porous membranes. Surface functionalization using an aqueous solution of gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (gamma-APTES) aided the surface immobilization of the Pd activation particles and the subsequent electroless deposition of metal layers onto the hydroxylrich membrane surface. The attractiveness of gamma-APTES functionalization, in the electroless deposition of metal layers, was thus demonstrated. Characterization techniques employed in the structural study of the surface-modified membranes included SEM, EDS, dynamic analysis in micro-PIXE, and XRD. Special membrane techniques such as electrokinetic analysis and single-gas permeation measurements were also used in the study of surface modification. These membranes were developed for application in tasks associated with the hydrogen economy. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.