Hydrogen sensor

• Main Authors: INOUE RYUJI, OSHIMA TAKAFUMI, ISHIDA NOBORU, WATANABE MASAYA, NADANAMI NORIHIKO, KONDO TOMONORI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.12.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TESTING

A hydrogen sensor includes a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 4 provided in contact with a proton conduction layer 2; a gas diffusion controlling portion 6 provided between a measurement gas atmosphere and the first electrode 3; and a support element (1a, 1b) for supporting the proton conduction layer 6, the first electrode 3, the second electrode 4, and the gas diffusion controlling portion 6. Hydrogen contained in a measurement gas introduced via the gas diffusion controlling portion 6 is dissociated, decomposed, or reacted by applying a voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 to thereby generate protons. Hydrogen concentration is obtained on the basis of a limiting current generated as a result of the generated protons being pumped out via the proton conduction layer 2 from the first electrode 3 side of the proton conduction layer to the second electrode 4 side of the proton conduction layer. Hydrogen concentration on the first electrode 2 is controlled to a partial pressure of not less than 10-12 atm, or more preferably, of not less than 3x10-12 atm and of less than 10-2 atm.