Hydrogen microsensor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hydrogen microsensor is a gas detector that detects the presence of hydrogen. Micro-fabricated point-contact hydrogen sensors are used to locate leaks.
Contents |
[edit] Key Issues
There are four key issues with hydrogen detectors:
- Reliability: Functionality should be easily verifiable.
- Performance: Detection 0.5% hydrogen in air or better, response time < 1 second.
- Lifetime: At least the time between scheduled maintenance.
- Cost: Goal is $5 per sensor and $30 per controller.[1]
[edit] Types of microsensors
 |
This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can (August 2006). |
There are various types of hydrogen microsensors, which use different mechanisms to detect the gas. Palladium is used in many of these, because it selectively absorbs hydrogen gas and forms the chemical palladium hydride [2]. Palladium-based sensors have a strong temperature dependence which makes their response time too large at very low temperatures [3]. Palladium sensors have to be protected against carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.
[edit] Optical fibre hydrogen sensors
Several types of optical fibre surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor are used for the point-contact detection of hydrogen:
[edit] Fiber Bragg grating coated with a palladium layer
Detects the hydrogen by metal hindrance
 |
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Micromirror
with a palladium thin layer at the cleaved end, detecting changes in the backreflected light.
|
|
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Tapered fibre coated with palladium
Hydrogen will change the refractive index of the palladium, and consequently the amount of losses in the evanescent wave.
|
|
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Nanoparticle-based hydrogen microsensors
The combination of nanotechnology and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology allows the production of a hydrogen microsensor that functions properly at room temperature. The hydrogen sensor is coated with a film consisting of nanostructured indium oxide (In2O3) and tin oxide (SnO2).[4]
[edit] Thin film sensors
A palladium thin film sensor is based on an opposing property that depends on the nanoscale structures within the thin film. In the thin film, nanosized palladium particles swell when the hydride is formed, and in the process of expanding, some of them form new electrical connections with their neighbors. The resistance decreases because of the increased number of conducting pathways.
[edit] Chemochromic hydrogen sensor
Reversible and irreversible chemochromic hydrogen sensors, a smart pigment paint that visually identifies hydrogen leaks by a change in color. The sensor is also available as tape. [5] FSEC Chemochromic Sensor
[edit] Thick film sensor
Thick film hydrogen sensors rely on the fact that palladium hydride's electrical resistance is greater than the metal's resistance. The absorption of hydrogen causes a measurable increase in electrical resistance.
[edit] Diode based Schottky sensor
A Schottky diode-based hydrogen gas sensor employs a palladium-alloy gate. Hydrogen can be selectively absorbed in the gate, lowering the Schottky energy barrier.[6] A Pd/InGaP metal-semiconductor (MS) Schottky diode can detect a concentration of 15 parts per million (ppm) H2 in air.[7] Silicon carbide semiconductor or silicon substrates are used.
[edit] Enhancement
Siloxane enhances the sensitivity and reaction time of hydrogen sensors.[8] Detection of hydrogen levels as low as 25 ppm can be achieved; far below hydrogen's lower explosive limit of around 40,000 ppm.
[edit] Calibration and lifetime
Sensors are calibrated at the factory and are valid for the service life of the unit.
