Optics-mechanics synergistic fiber optic sensor for hydrogen detection

Abstract

As a carbon-free energy carrier and an attractive alternative energy source, hydrogen energy has great development potential for future considerations, and it may be the ultimate answer to the global energy crisis. Due to the high combustibility of hydrogen, hydrogen sensors will be a vital component of safe use of hydrogen. Among the various sensors, the optical hydrogen sensor can meet the requirements of intrinsic safety, online detection, surrounding immunity, and lack of spark. Hence, we demonstrate a miniature optics-mechanics synergistic fiber optic hydrogen sensor by using Pd nanofilm, it has a large response range (0.5%-3.5%), high sensitivity of -0.334 nm/1% concentration and a short response time (10s)/recovery time (25s). Experimental results reveal that the proposed optics-mechanics synergistic fiber optic hydrogen sensor is reusable, durable, and low temperature sensitive. In this optics-mechanics synergistic fiber optic hydrogen sensor, nano Pd film with a large surface-to-volume ratio allows for rapid hydrogen dissociation, and Pd lattice expansion caused by Pd-hydrogen reaction is effectively transduced into optical change. This proposed sensor integrated Pd nanofilm with optical fiber by using an optics-mechanics synergistic strategy, resulting in a compact and all-optical solution for the safe measurement of hydrogen concentration, which can be used in hazardous or space-limited environments.

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“…Optical and fiber-optic pH sensors [136][137][138][139] have great application potential for this purpose. Besides, hydrogen [140][141][142] and oxygen [143][144][145] detection can be achieved with specially designed optical fiber sensors to realize HER and OER monitoring. Generally, different battery sensors have different merits/demerits, and one's merits may compensate other's demerits.…”

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“…The slow response time can be improved by thinning the thickness of Pd. Zhang et al [101] fabricated a H 2 sensor probe based on an FPI with a nano Pd film acting as the FP cavity, in which an ultrathin Pd film of 27.42 nm leads to a short response time of s.…”