Strengthening Green Energy Sources in Canada: Optical Sensors for Safe Storage and Distribution of Hydrogen

作为一个星球，我们正在目睹一场“能源危机”——随着化石燃料消耗量的增加，大气中的二氧化碳继续达到前所未有的水平，引发了对气候变化和海洋酸化的担忧。为了确保子孙后代的福祉，我们必须努力减少温室气体排放，并投资于替代能源基础设施。作为一项切实的成果，这一领域的进展将增加清洁能源部门的就业机会，巩固加拿大在这一领域的主导地位————在全球大流行病所造成的背景下，这是重点。二氢（H2）气体是一种很有前途的候选能源，它将成为加拿大在2050年将全球气温上升限制在1.5摄氏度的有效工具。氢气是一种可再生能源，产生零净排放，可以从水中提取。尽管人们对这种替代燃料很感兴趣，但加拿大和国际社会对其使用的固有风险表示担忧，因为它具有爆炸性，而且在运输/储存过程中容易泄漏。安全高效的氢气检测将是采用氢气作为绿色能源的主要要求。目前，缺乏有效的H2检测/传感方法，这些方法可以集成到需要H2的多个使用点环境中，从而限制了应用。这里提出的研究将温莎大学的科学家团队与埃德蒙顿的仪器制造商威尔逊分析服务公司（Inc.）联系起来，通过开发能够进行H2量化的新型检测仪器，直接解决这一任务。为了解决这个问题，我们组建了一个专家团队，他们对化学合成、材料科学和分析传感器开发感兴趣。这些新材料将集成到一个量身定制的平台中，该平台将在实验室和现场环境中进行评估，以确保准确性、效率、灵敏度和可靠性。最终，这一NSERC联盟使命与加拿大2020年制定的氢战略是一致的，并将为新的能源模式做出贡献，并在全国范围内创造就业机会。

As a planet, we are witnessing an 'energy crisis' - with increasing rates of fossil fuel consumption, atmospheric CO2 continues to reach unprecedented levels, causing concern regarding climate change and ocean acidification. To ensure the well-being of future generations, it is imperative that we work to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and invest in alternative energy infrastructure. As a tangible outcome, progress in this arena would offer increased employment opportunities in the clean energy sector, asserting Canada's dominance in this field - important points of emphasis against a backdrop that has been painted by the global pandemic. Dihydrogen (H2) gas is a promising energy candidate that will serve as a utile tool for Canada in its bid to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 oC by 2050. H2 is a renewable energy source that produces zero net emissions and can be sourced from water. Despite interest in this alternative fuel, Canadian and International concern has highlighted inherent risks associated with use, stemming from its explosive nature and propensity to leak during transport/storage. Safe and efficient detection of H2 will be a major requirement in the adoption of H2 as a green energy source. Currently, there is a paucity of effective H2-detection/sensing methods that can be integrated in multiple point-of-use environments where H2 is needed, constraining application. The research proposed here connects a team of scientists from the University of Windsor with an Edmonton-based instrumentation manufacturer, Wilson Analytical Services (Inc.) to directly addresses this mission by developing novel detection instrumentation that enables H2 quantification. A team of experts has been assembled to tackle this problem, with interests in chemical synthesis, materials science, and analytical sensor development. These new materials will be integrated into a tailor-made platform that will be evaluated in laboratory and field environments alike to ensure accuracy, efficiency, sensitivity, and reliability. Ultimately, this NSERC Alliance Mission is consistent with Canada's Hydrogen Strategy developed in 2020 and will contribute to a new energy paradigm and create career opportunities nationwide.