National Renewable Energy Laboratory

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL intellectual property related to a fiber-optic hydrogen sensor. Fiber-optic hydrogen sensors based on chromogenic materials are sensitive, durable, and potentially low in cost. At concentrations of more than 0.02% hydrogen in air, these materials undergo optical changes, either changing color or changing the transmittance through the film as atomic hydrogen is incorporated. Dissociation of hydrogen gas is accomplished on the surface of a thin catalyst top layer (e.g., palladium). Some of the atomic hydrogen diffuses rapidly through the catalyst and into the chromogenic layer, changing its optical properties.

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