Pd/SiO2 and AuPd/SiO2 nanocomposite-based optical fiber sensors for H2 sensing applications
- National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, (United States); Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, (United States)
The ability to accurately and safely monitor hydrogen concentration is of significant importance for abroad range of energy, defense, aviation, and aerospace applications with one of the most notable appli-cations being leak detection for hydrogen above the lower explosive limit. Optical-based approachesoffer significant safety advantages as compared to electrical-based sensors and Pd or AuPd-alloys arecommonly utilized as the functional sensor layer due to a well-known, characteristic, and selective inter-action with H2. In our work, optical fiber-based sensors comprised of Pd and AuPd alloy nanoparticleincorporated SiO2thin films deposited onto unclad multimode silica-based optical fiber evanescent waveabsorption spectroscopy sensing elements have been investigated. Selective, sensitive, and monotonic H2sensing responses have been demonstrated at levels significantly greater than the lower explosive limitin the presence of CO and O2near room temperature. A tendency for partial oxidation of the noble metalnanoparticles upon exposure to oxidizing atmospheres is confirmed directly through X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy, particularly at elevated temperatures. Monotonic H2sensing responses are also observedat elevated temperatures in cases where oxygen is not introduced into the atmosphere. However, morecomplex sensing responses in multi-component elevated temperature gas streams containing oxidizingand reducing species can be observed which likely result from oxidation and reduction of noble metalnanoparticles. Finally, these results demonstrate that the incorporation of noble metals such as Pd and Pd-alloynanoparticles into inert dielectric matrices such as SiO2can impart new optical sensing functionalitypotentially useful for H2 sensing applications.
- Research Organization:
- National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
- OSTI ID:
- 1221798
- Report Number(s):
- A-NETL-PUB-116; PII: S0925400515002506
- Journal Information:
- Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical, Vol. 214, Issue C; ISSN 0925-4005
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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