India develops high-sensitivity hydrogen sensors to pave the way for clean energy development

[ Instrument Network Instrument Development ] Hydrogen is a gas that is extremely flammable, colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless, and insoluble in water. Therefore, it can power a car as a clean, renewable energy carrier. The product of hydrogen combustion is water and does not cause any pollution to the environment. Hydrogen can be produced by electrolyzing water with the help of electricity generated by clean energy such as wind and solar.

However, hydrogen is highly flammable when mixed with air. Therefore, whether it is hydrogen production or hydrogen use (such as fuel cells used in automobiles), very fast and efficient sensors are needed to detect hydrogen leaks.

Therefore, for a sustainable society that uses hydrogen as an energy carrier, fast and accurate sensors will become very important. According to the guidelines issued by the US Department of Energy, sensors should be able to quickly detect colorless and odorless hydrogen, achieve sufficient response and recovery times in 60 seconds, and detect 1% hydrogen.

Recently, Indian researchers have developed a high-sensitivity sensor that detects hydrogen at very low concentrations and is expected to detect hydrogen leaks in some places where hydrogen fuel is used.

Recently, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, published relevant papers in the Dutch academic journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemistry. According to reports, the detection sensitivity of this sensor can reach 74% when the hydrogen concentration in the environment is 100ppm (1ppm is 1ppm). Its detection process takes about 25 seconds.

The researchers designed the sensor by using the principle that the resistance changes when the material such as zinc oxide is in contact with hydrogen. According to reports, some hydrogen sensors require a high temperature of about 250 degrees Celsius to activate the relevant chemical reactions, but this new type of sensor can achieve the same effect at 150 degrees Celsius due to the addition of carbon nanofibers. This makes it unnecessary to use a heater with a higher temperature in the new sensor, which has a greater application value.

Hydrogen fuel is a new energy source commonly used in many places. Although hydrogen is not polluted, it is flammable and explosive, so it must be prevented from leaking. Since hydrogen is colorless and odorless, it is generally difficult to detect leaking hydrogen in the environment. With a highly sensitive hydrogen sensor, the safe use of hydrogen fuel will be more secure.