Low-Cost Hydrogen Sensor in the ppm Range with Purely Optical Readout

• DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b02314
• Publication Date: 2020-02-10T13:24:15Z
• Authors: Ediz Herkert; Florian Sterl; Nikolai Strohfeldt; Ramon Walter; Harald Giessen
• Keywords: Hydrogen sensor; Robustness; Energy carrier; Photodiode; Leakage (economics)

Due to the changing global climate, role of renewable energy sources is increasing importance. Hydrogen can play an important as carrier in transition from fossil fuels. However, ensure safe operations, a highly reliable and sensitive hydrogen sensor required for leakage detection. We present design with purely optical readout that reliably operates between 50 100,000 ppm. The building block reactive sample consists layered structure palladium nanodisks top layer changes its properties depending on external partial pressure. use fiber-coupled setup consisting LED, body containing sample, photodiode probe read out reflectance sample. This allows separation explosive detection area operating electronics thus comes inherent protection against ignition by electronic malfunctions. Our results prove this provides large range, fast response times, enhanced robustness aging compared conventional thin-film technologies. Especially, simplicity, feasibility, scalability presented approach yield holistic industrial monitoring.