Patent ID: 7992425
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An electrical resistance-based sensor for low levels of hydrogen comprising: a nanoporous silicon substrate having nanopores about 10 nm in diameter wherein the nanopores are positioned normal with respect to the surface of the substrate and exhibit branching; a hydrogen absorbing layer positioned on a surface of the silicon substrate, the hydrogen absorbing layer having a plurality of hydrogen-absorbing nanoclusters positioned within the nanopores of the substrate, at least some of the nanoclusters separated from neighboring nanoclusters by voids; a metallic layer positioned on the nanoclusters; and a mechanism in electrical communication with the hydrogen absorbing layer for sensing a change in electrical resistance in response to the presence of hydrogen in contact with the hydrogen absorbing layer, whereby hydrogen absorbed by the hydrogen absorbing layer causes the nanoclusters to expand resulting in an increase in particle to particle contact between the nanoclusters and a corresponding increase in the conductivity of the hydrogen absorbing layer.