Back to results
US 5,668,301 AGranted
Method and apparatus for the detection of hydrogen using a metal alloy
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorGary W. Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydrogen sensitive metal alloy contains palladium and titanium to provide a larger change in electrical resistance when exposed to the presence of hydrogen. The alloy is deposited on a substrate and a thin film and connected across electrical circuitry to provide a sensor device that can be used for improved sensitivity and accuracy of hydrogen detection.
Claims18
A hydrogen detector comprising:
- a substrate;
- a thin film of PdTi metal alloy deposited on said substrate, wherein said PdTi alloy contains between 50 and 99 atomic % Pd and between 1 and 50% Ti, and wherein the PdTi alloy experiences a change in electrical resistance when exposed to hydrogen;
- and
- electrical circuitry connected to said PdTi thin film, wherein said change in resistance is detected by said electrical circuitry.
1 more element
A method of forming a hydrogen detector, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate;
- depositing a thin film of PdTi alloy on the substrate wherein the PdTi alloy contains between 50 and 99 atomic % Pd and between 1 and 50% Ti;
- and
- connecting electrical circuitry to said thin film of PdTi alloy, whereby change in the resistance in said thin film of PdTi alloy is detected by said electrical circuitry.
1 more element
A method for detecting hydrogen and hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a thin film of PdTi alloy thereon;
- connecting electrical circuitry to said thin film of PdTi alloy;
- detecting changes in electrical resistance in said PdTi alloy by means of said electrical circuitry to indicate the presence of hydrogen and hydrocarbons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.