Hafnium - an optical hydrogen sensor spanning six orders in pressure

Boelsma, C.; Bannenberg, L.J.; Van Setten, M. J.; Steinke, N.J.; van Well, A.A.; Dam, B.

doi:10.1038/ncomms15718

Hafnium - an optical hydrogen sensor spanning six orders in pressure

Title

Hafnium - an optical hydrogen sensor spanning six orders in pressure

Author

Boelsma, C. (TU Delft ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage)
Bannenberg, L.J. (TU Delft RST/Neutron and Positron Methods in Materials)
Van Setten, M. J. (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Steinke, N.J. (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
van Well, A.A. (TU Delft RST/Neutron and Positron Methods in Materials)
Dam, B. (TU Delft ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage)

Date

2017

Abstract

Hydrogen detection is essential for its implementation as an energy vector. So far, palladium is considered to be the most effective hydrogen sensing material. Here we show that palladium-capped hafnium thin films show a highly reproducible change in optical transmission in response to a hydrogen exposure ranging over six orders of magnitude in pressure. The optical signal is hysteresis-free within this range, which includes a transition between two structural phases. A temperature change results in a uniform shift of the optical signal. This, to our knowledge unique, feature facilitates the sensor calibration and suggests a constant hydrogenation enthalpy. In addition, it suggests an anomalously steep increase of the entropy with the hydrogen/metal ratio that cannot be explained on the basis of a classical solid solution model. The optical behaviour as a function of its hydrogen content makes hafnium well-suited for use as a hydrogen detection material.

Subject

Metals and alloys
Sensors and biosensors
Thermodynamics

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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:012ab61b-cd23-4878-992b-4a5eaf4e6dea

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15718

ISSN

2041-1723

Source

Nature Communications, 8

Part of collection

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