The sensor recognizes hydrogen leaks at 192 per billion in 0.8 seconds

Researchers in Saudi Arabia have developed a resilient, ultra-sensitive and inexpensive hydrogen sensor, which is based on an innovative polymer and exceeds commercial detectors and offers a decisive safety instrument for the growing hydrogen economy.

The new device was designed by Suman Mandal, PhD, a post -doctoral research fellow from Physical Science and Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust), and his team works with room temperature, reacts in less than one second and does not use more than two microwatt.

According to reports, the groundbreaking device is able to recognize hydrogen concentrations of only 192 parts per billion, even in complex gas mixtures, which has ever developed into one of the fastest and energy -efficient hydrogen sensors.

Polymer -powered technology

While hydrogen is quickly developed as a leading clean energy source for transport, manufacture and electricity generation, its high -flame -flame and odorless nature makes reliable leak detection significant for safety.

In the case of existing sensors, which are often limited by slow response times, high power consumption or the need for increased operating temperatures, the need is more intelligent, faster solutions to ensure that hydrogen security has never been more urgent.

“Conventional hydrogen sensors are exposed to several restrictions,” said Mandal, explaining that these devices are often held back during operation by slow response, difficulties in detecting the hydrogen of trace and the need for high temperatures.

In the attempt to master the challenges, the scientists used a half-polymer called DPP-DTT, which coated them in a few platinum electrodes. In the case of hydrogen that was exposed to hydrogen, the electricity that led through the device fell up to 10,000 times and offers a strong signal that correlated directly with the hydrogen concentration in the air.

Mandal said that the high level of reaction enables a quick and precise recognition of gas leaks, which is of crucial importance for ensuring security both in the industrial and transport sector.

The innovative device reacts within a second after exposure and hardly consumes two microwatens with electricity, whereby the tests can work reliably for up to two years over a wide range of temperatures and humidity.

Put the device on the test

In order to test the device, the researchers suspended it in a variety of real scenarios, including hydrogen, which escaped from a pipe and the controlled burst of balloons filled with hydrogen in a room. They even mounted the sensor on a drone and flew it through an area with a hydrogen leak. Ultimately, they were impressed that it consistently exceeded the commercial sensors.

In addition, the sensor has also successfully demonstrated hydrogen in mixtures that contained fleeting molecules such as ethanol and acetone as well as in complex gas environments. It only failed in oxygen -free conditions and offered an important insight into its detection mechanism.

Mandal explained that oxygen penetrates the polymer and draws electrons and increases the current of the device. When hydrogen is present, it runs through the polymer, divides into atoms on the platinum surface and combined with oxygen to water that escapes the device. Removing the oxygen reduces the current and signals the presence of the hydrogen.

“This is a completely new hydrogen -sensing mechanism,” said Mandal in a press release and added that the sensor could be produced at low costs, which makes it difficult to identify hydrogen leaves quickly.

According to reports, the team has reported a patent application for its innovation and intended to work with a company in order to further advance the technology. “I think these efforts will help to ensure that the safety problems of hydrogen security are inexpensive and environmentally friendly,” concluded Mandal.

The study was published in the journal Natural electronics.