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On-chip ultrasensitive and rapid hydrogen sensing based on plasmon-induced hot electron-molecule interaction
Long Wen1, Zhiwei Sun1, Qilin Zheng1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, 511443, Guangzhou, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|March 22, 2023
Summary
A new on-chip sensor detects hydrogen leaks with high sensitivity (1 ppm) at room temperature. This plasmonic-catalytic device offers a faster, more portable alternative to existing hydrogen detection methods.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Hydrogen energy offers a zero-carbon alternative to fossil fuels but poses significant safety risks due to its flammability and explosivity.
- Current hydrogen leak detection methods, including optical and electrical sensors, often involve complex instrumentation, high operating temperatures, or specific biasing conditions, limiting their practical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel on-chip plasmonic-catalytic hydrogen sensor.
- To achieve highly sensitive and rapid hydrogen leak detection at room temperature and zero bias.
- To explore the potential of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) nanojunctions for advanced gas sensing applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an on-chip metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) nanojunction incorporating plasmonic-catalytic properties.
- Utilizing a quantum tunneling model for theoretical calculations and experimental validation.
- Characterizing the sensor's performance, including detection limit, response speed, and signal enhancement compared to non-plasmonic devices.
Main Results:
- Achieved a hydrogen concentration detection limit as low as 1 part per million (ppm).
- Demonstrated a three-orders-of-magnitude enhancement in sensing signal and a one-order-of-magnitude increase in response speed compared to non-plasmonic sensors.
- Attributed the enhanced performance to a hydrogen-induced interfacial dipole charge layer and plasmonic hot electron modulation of the photoelectric response.
Conclusions:
- The developed on-chip plasmonic-catalytic sensor provides a highly sensitive, rapid, and room-temperature solution for hydrogen leak detection.
- The integration of plasmonic optics, photoelectric detection, and photocatalysis in a single chip offers a promising platform for next-generation optical gas sensors.
- This technology paves the way for cost-effective, portable, and flexible hydrogen sensing solutions essential for the safe adoption of hydrogen energy.
