Hydrogen sensor using a solid hydrogen ion conducting electrolyte
AssigneeHer Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources
InventorsAreekattuthazhayil K. Kuriakose, Nicola Maffei
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Abstract
A reliable gaseous hydrogen detection and measuring device which is simple, easy to use, does not require any reference gas supply, and which can be of reasonably rugged construction. The device utilizes a disc comprising a solid state ceramic hydronium conductor of the general formula Na(H3O)Zr2SixP(3−x)O12 Na(H3O)xZr2SixP(3−x)O12 together with a silver based electrode system on one side, and a catalytic noble metal electrode, such as platinum, on the other. By measurement of the output voltage across the electrodes, both the presence, and the amount, of hydrogen in a gaseous system can be determined.
Claims24
A hydrogen detection device comprising in combination:
- (a) a body of phosphate bonded ceramic electrolyte of the general formula Na(H3O)xZr2SixP(3−x)O12 having a first face spaced apart from a second face;
- (b) a layer of platinum on the first face of the body in electrical contact with the ceramic electrolyte a catalytic noble metal electrode layer on the first face of the body in electrical contact with the ceramic electrolyte;
- (c) a silver ion modified layer on and in the second face of the body;
- (d) a silver electrode in contact with the silver ion modified layer;
- and
- (e) conductive leads electrically connected to each of the faces;
- whereby the emf generated when the ceramic body is exposed to hydrogen gas is measured.
A method of detecting hydrogen in a gaseous system which comprises exposing a detection device comprising in combination:
- (a) a body of phosphate bonded ceramic electrolyte of the general formula Na(H3O)xZr2SixP(3−x)O12 having a first face spaced apart from a second face;
- (b) a layer of platinum catalytic noble metal layer on the first face of the body in electrical contact with the ceramic electrolyte;
- (c) a silver ion modified layer on and in the second face of the body;
- (d) a silver electrode in contact with the silver ion modified layer;
- and
- (e) conductive leads electrically connected to each of the faces;
- to the gaseous system, and measuring the emf generated across the two conductive leads.
A method of measuring the concentration of hydrogen in a gaseous system which comprises:
- (i) exposing a detection device comprising in combination:
- (a) a body of ceramic electrolyte of the general formula Na(1+x)Zr2SixP(3−x)O12 having a first face spaced apart from a second face;
- (b) a layer of platinum catalytic noble metal layer on the first face of the body in electrical contact with the ceramic electrolyte;
- (c) a silver ion modified layer on and in the second face of the body;
- (d) a silver electrode in contact with the silver ion modified layer;
- and
- (e) conductive leads electrically connected to each of the faces;
- to a plurality of gaseous systems each containing known amounts of hydrogen;
- (ii) measuring the emf generated across the conductive leads by exposure to each gaseous system to provide a calibration curve for the device;
- (iii) exposing the device to a gaseous system containing an unknown amount of hydrogen;
- (iv) measuring the emf generated on exposure to gaseous system in step (iii);
- and
- (v) comparing the emf measured in step (iv) with the calibration curve obtained in step (ii).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.