Hydrogen gas sensor based upon proton acceptors integrated in copper-tetra-2,3-pyridinoporphyradine

We have previously developed a novel H-2 gas sensor based upon a high proton affinity of diketodipyridylpyrrolopyrrole. Protonation is found to bring about a remarkable reduction of the electrical resistivity and this effect has been applied to H-2 gas sensors. In the present investigation, an attempt was made to integrate proton acceptors (i.e., pyridyl rings) into copperphthalocyanine in order to improve the sensor characteristics. The present sensor exhibits a remarkable change in electrical resistivity by three orders of magnitude even under 0.01% H-2. Furthermore, the sensor is found to operate reversibly at room temperature and is scarcely influenced by ambient gases such as CH4, CO, CO2, NO, SO2, CH, OH, C-2 Hr(5)OH, and H2O moisture.