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”--随着化石燃料消耗率的增加，大气中的二氧化碳继续达到前所未有的水平，引起了人们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。作为一项切实成果，在这一竞技场取得进展将增加清洁能源部门的就业机会，确立加拿大在这一领域的主导地位-在全球大流行病的背景下，这是重要的重点。二氢（H2）气体是一种很有前途的能源候选者，将作为加拿大的实用工具，争取到2050年将全球气温上升限制在1.5摄氏度。氢气是一种可再生能源，净排放量为零，可以从水中获得。尽管人们对这种替代燃料感兴趣，但加拿大和国际社会的关切突出表明了与使用有关的内在风险，这些风险源于其爆炸性和在运输/储存过程中的泄漏倾向。在采用H2作为绿色能源时，H2的安全和有效检测将是主要要求。目前，缺乏有效的H2检测/感测方法，这些方法可以集成在需要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一组科学家与埃德蒙顿的仪器制造商威尔逊分析服务公司（Wilson Analytical Services（Inc.））联系起来。通过开发能够实现H2量化的新型探测仪器来直接解决这一使命。一个专家团队已经组建起来解决这个问题，他们对化学合成，材料科学和分析传感器开发感兴趣。这些新材料将被集成到一个定制的平台中，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，NSERC联盟的这一使命与加拿大2020年制定的氢战略一致，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.