Hydrogen Sensor Based on Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Electrolyte and Tin-Doped Indium Oxide Sensing Electrode

Journal Article · Fri Mar 26 00:00:00 EST 2004 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

OSTI ID:15020073

Martin, L P; Glass, R S

A solid state electrochemical sensor has been developed for hydrogen leak detection in ambient air. The sensor uses an yttria-stabilized electrolyte with a tin-doped indium oxide sensing electrode and a Pt reference electrode. Excellent sensitivity, and response time of one second or less, are reported for hydrogen gas over the concentration range of 0.03 to 5.5% in air. Cross-sensitivity to relative humidity and to CO{sub 2} are shown to be low. The response to methane, a potentially significant source of interference for such a sensor, is significantly less than that for hydrogen. The sensor shows good reproducibility and was unaffected by thermal cycling over the course of this investigation. The effects of sensing electrode thickness and thermal aging are also reported, and the sensing mechanism is discussed. The sensor is intended for use in vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion engines. Those vehicles will use and/or store significant quantities of hydrogen, and will require safety sensor for monitoring potential hydrogen leakage in order to ensure passenger safety.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 15020073
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JRNL-203456; JESOAN; TRN: US200519%%157
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 152, Issue 4; ISSN 0013-4651
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
08 HYDROGEN
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AGING
DETECTION
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
HUMIDITY
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
INDIUM OXIDES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
METHANE
MONITORING
OCCUPANTS
SAFETY
SENSITIVITY
THERMAL CYCLING
THICKNESS