APPLICATIONS OF NOVEL PROTON-CONDUCTING POLYMERS TO HYDROGEN SENSING

Ionic conducting polymer blends capable of supporting proton conduction from minus 40 degree C to 40 degree C have been developed. These proton-conducting polymer blends have been used to fabricate hydrogen sensors that are capable of operating at room temperature without the need for an external supply of water vapor. Two sensor designs, both potentiostatic, are being investigated: the first uses a gaseous reference source, and the second a solid state palladium hydride reference. These sensors measure accurately the hydrogen concentration to better than 1%, have a response time of less than 6 s and are not adversely affected by most potential poisons.