Thermochemical hydrogen sensor based on chalcogenide nanowire arrays

Abstract

The hydrogen gas-sensing properties have been investigated of two types of thermochemical hydrogen (TCH) sensors composed of thermoelectric layers based on chalcogenide nanowire arrays and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The monomorphic-type TCH sensor, which had only Bi2Te3 nanowire arrays, showed an output signal of 23.7 μV in response to 5 vol% hydrogen gas at room temperature, whereas an output signal of 215 μV was obtained from an n-p junction-type TCH sensor made of connected Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 nanowire arrays in an AAO template. Despite its small deposition area, the output signal of the n-p sensor was more than nine times that of the monomorphic sensor. This observation can be explained by the difference in electrical connections (parallel and serial conversions) in the TCH sensor between each type of nanowire array. Also, our n-p sensor had a wide detection range for hydrogen gas (from 400 ppm to 45 vol%) and a fast response time of 1.3 s at room temperature without requiring external power.

High Performance Thermoelectric Materials: Progress and Their Applications

“…Thick film NiO‐based H 2 sensors have also been investigated via Li doping and using different oxide layers and substrates, which show reasonable sensing properties at room temperature with noise‐free voltage signals. Other materials such as SiGe film, monodispersed SnO 2 nanoparticles, Pt/alumina catalyst, and chalcogenide nanowire arrays have been developed for H 2 sensing; among them, sensors based on monodispersed SnO 2 nanoparticles have shown the responses to other gases such as ethanol and NO x . Moreover, a double AuPtPd/SnO 2 and Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalyst and Au/SnO 2 –Co 3 O 4 (Figure b,c) on a micro‐TE sensor was used for CO gas sensing; porous alumina‐based sensors were developed for hydrocarbon; dual‐catalyzed Pd/θ‐Al 2 O 3 and Pt/α‐Al 2 O 3 system were able to detect H 2 and CH 4 , which can be used in monitoring the combustion of fuel gas in industrial furnaces .…”

Implementation of Bismuth Chalcogenides as an Efficient Anode: A Journey from Conventional Liquid Electrolyte to an All-Solid-State Li-Ion Battery

“…Bi and their chalcogenides are promising anodes for Li-ion batteries owing to their high volumetric energy density [29][30][31]. Bismuth (Bi) and its binary chalcogenides (Bi 2 X 3 , X = Te, Se, and S) are known for their various applications like thermoelectric [32][33][34], sensors [35], photodetectors [36][37][38], photoelectrochemical sensors [39,40], etc. due to their unique properties, i.e., their unique layered structure, narrow bandgap, and their environmentally friendly nature [35].…”

“…Bismuth (Bi) and its binary chalcogenides (Bi 2 X 3 , X = Te, Se, and S) are known for their various applications like thermoelectric [32][33][34], sensors [35], photodetectors [36][37][38], photoelectrochemical sensors [39,40], etc. due to their unique properties, i.e., their unique layered structure, narrow bandgap, and their environmentally friendly nature [35]. Bi 2 Se 3 and Bi 2 Te 3 possess a rhombohedral (R3m) structure, whereas Bi 2 S 3 consists of an orthorhombic crystal structure.…”

“…This gap between the layers provides sufficient space for Li-ion intercalation and further provides channels for the transportation of ions [42]. This feature provides a better efficacy of these materials as an anode for LIBs [35]. The main stumbling block of these materials is their poor cyclability.…”

Hydrogen gas sensor based on mesoporous In2O3 with fast response/recovery and ppb level detection limit

“…Over the past decades, various types of hydrogen gas sensors have been developed, including semiconductor [1,2], thermoelectrics [3,4] optical [5][6][7][8] and surface acoustic wave [9,10] sensors. Among them, the semiconductor sensors are simple, inexpensive, highly sensitive, and can be easily integrated with microelectronic devices.…”