Mixed potential type hydrogen sensor

Elisabeth Siebert (1) , Sébastien Rosini (1) , Renaud Bouchet (1) , Gérard Vitter (1)

1 LEPMI - Laboratoire d'Electrochimie et de Physico-chimie des Matériaux et des Interfaces

The principle of potentiometric hydrogen sensors based on protonic conductors is reviewed. The origin of the potentiometric response in inert gas (Nernst potential) and in air (mixed potential) is discussed. It is shown that the nature of the sensing electrode as well as the morphology influence the mixed potential response. The properties of the solid-state internal reference electrode are also examined and discussed. A H⁺ reversible electrode based on quinhydrone is described. Then, an example of solid-state potentiometric hydrogen sensor is presented. The device incorporates a protonic polymer electrolyte based on polybenzimidazole, a Pt gas diffusion electrode or a Pt grid as sensing electrode and a reference electrode based on Ag-AgCl. The sensing characteristics in nitrogen and dry air are reported.

Domaines: Matériaux

Elisabeth Siebert, Sébastien Rosini, Renaud Bouchet, Gérard Vitter. Mixed potential type hydrogen sensor. Ionics, 2003, 9 (3-4), pp. 168-175. ⟨10.1007/BF02375962⟩. ⟨hal-00417975⟩