New bendy sensors have been developed for use in hydrogen fuel cells, using palladium nanoparticles.

Scientists from the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have developed the new sensors, which will improve efficiency and rely less on pure palladium and more on palladium nanoparticles.

The palladium nanoparticles are deposited onto single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to create hydrogen sensors.

Argonne National Laboratory explains that the palladium nanoparticles are important in "increasing the interaction between hydrogen and the SWNTs to enhance the change of resistance of the device when it is exposed to hydrogen molecules".

The scientists believe that these new sensors can offer high sensitivity, delivering excellent sensing performance, as well as having a fast response time and quick recovery.

"The leakage of hydrogen caused by tiny pinholes in the pipe of a space shuttle, for example, could not be easily detected by individual rigid detectors because the locations of pinholes are not predetermined," explained Yugang Sun, one of the researchers involved in the project.

He continued: "However, laminating a dense array of flexible sensors on the surfaces of the pipe can detect any hydrogen leakage prior to diffusion to alert control units to take action."

Source:

Nanotechnology helps scientists make bendy sensors for hydrogen vehicles, 31/07/07
http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/News/2007/news070731.html

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