SBIR Phase II: A Reversible, Colorimetric Hydrogen Safety Sensor Using Tailored Xerogels

这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段研究项目将优化光学安全传感器的性能，以便与氢经济基础设施集成。通过开发一种基于溶胶-凝胶-二氧化钛的指示剂配方，证明了该传感方法的可行性，该配方具有完全可逆性，在氢气浓度为4%时，响应和恢复时间不到1分钟。安全仍然是重中之重，因为在生产、储存、转移和分配过程中，氢气在空气中泄漏，在室温和压力下为浓度在4%(v/v)-爆炸下限(LEL)和74.5%(v/v)-爆炸上限(UEL)之间的浓度创造了爆炸环境。氢是一种非常小的分子，容易通过密封和微裂缝泄漏。该传感器将在动态检测范围、响应和恢复时间、灵敏度、准确度、分辨率和减少来自温度波动和包括湿度在内的大气气体的干扰方面进一步改进。氢气经济性是新的；公众接受氢燃料将需要集成可靠的安全传感器。未来20年，全球能源消费预计将增长50%。如果不能开发石油的替代品，将加剧对石油进口的日益依赖，从而增加政治和军事冲突以及经济中断的风险。要让公众接受氢气作为替代燃料，就需要一种安全传感器，将氢气泄漏造成的爆炸风险降低到不可接受的水平。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II research project will optimize performance of an optical safety sensor for integration with the hydrogen economy infrastructures. Feasibility of the sensing approach was demonstrated by developing a sol-gel-titania-based indicator formulation, which showed complete reversibility, and response and recovery time of less than a minute with 4% hydrogen. Safety remains a top priority since leakage of hydrogen in air during production, storage, transfer and distribution creates an explosive atmosphere for concentrations between 4% (v/v) - the lower explosive limit (LEL) and 74.5% (v/v) - the upper explosive limit (UEL) at room temperature and pressure. Being a very small molecule, hydrogen is prone to leakage through seals and micro-cracks. The sensor will be further improved with regard to its dynamic detection range, response and recovery times, sensitivity, accuracy, resolution and reduced interference from temperature fluctuations, and atmospheric gases including humidity.Hydrogen economy is new; public acceptance of hydrogen fuel would require the integration of a reliable safety sensor. Global energy consumption is projected to increase by 50% over the next 20 years. Failure to develop alternatives to oil would heighten growing reliance on oil imports, raising the risk of political and military conflict and economic disruption. The acceptance of hydrogen by the general public as an alternative fuel requires a safety sensor for mitigating the explosion risks due to hydrogen leakage at unacceptable levels.