Patent ID: 7622080

Claim:
A hydrogen gas sensitive semiconductor sensor, comprising: a catalytic metal layer comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being arranged to freely communicate with the ambient atmosphere, the inner surface comprising at least one hydrogen atom adsorption surface portion, a surface area of the outer surface being at least 100% larger than a total surface area of the at least one hydrogen atom adsorption surface portion of said inner surface, the inner surface further comprising at least one hydrogen atom adsorption inhibited surface portion; a semiconductor layer; an insulator layer arranged between the catalytic metal layer and the semiconductor layer, such that the at least one hydrogen atom adsorption surface portion of the catalytic metal layer is arranged adjacent to said insulator layer; and a hydrogen atom adsorption inhibiting material layer sandwiched between each hydrogen atom adsorption inhibited surface portion and the insulator layer, whereby each hydrogen atom adsorption inhibited surface portion is arranged adjacent to a hydrogen atom adsorption inhibiting material layer and whereby a thickness of the hydrogen atom adsorption inhibiting material layer is 0.001-0.3 μm.