Measurement of Low-Concentration Hydrogen in Inert Gas Within a Small Closed Volume

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Accurate hydrogen concentration measurement is crucial for understanding metal hydride behavior.
• Existing methods for gas release analysis are often resource-intensive and not suitable for real-time, in-situ monitoring.
• Harsh experimental conditions, including inert atmospheres and pressure fluctuations, pose challenges for sensor reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel technique for measuring hydrogen concentration in closed systems.
• To assess the performance of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect capacity-type (MOSFEC) sensor under challenging conditions.
• To provide a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional gas measurement methods.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a MOSFEC sensor for hydrogen concentration measurement within a closed system.
• Conducted experiments involving thermal decomposition of metal hydrides in a liquid sodium environment.
• Operated the sensor under varying temperatures, inert gas exposure, and pressure fluctuations.
• Compared the developed technique with standardized open-volume flow measurement methods.

Main Results:

• The MOSFEC sensor successfully measured hydrogen concentration in an inert atmosphere under harsh conditions.
• The developed technique proved to be cost-effective compared to conventional methods.
• Real-time, in-situ monitoring of gas release dynamics from various metal hydrides was achieved.
• Precise determination of specific gas release temperatures was enabled.

Conclusions:

• The MOSFEC sensor offers a rapid, efficient, and cost-effective solution for hydrogen concentration measurement in closed systems.
• This technique facilitates detailed investigation of gas release from metal hydrides in real-time.
• The method is suitable for analyzing diverse metal hydride materials and determining their specific gas release characteristics.