(Digital Presentation) Electrochemical Sensors for Hydrogen/Deuterium Speciation

Abstract

By the end of the century, global energy demand is expected to increase by a factor of three due to population growth. In this context, fossil fuels should not be the main power source due to the elevated environmental cost. Nuclear fusion technology is planned as an alternative to this demand as it is expected to generate large quantities of energy without all the inconveniences of fossil fuels. The most feasible reaction to take place is the fusion between two hydrogen nuclei. Specifically, deuterium and tritium will react releasing helium, neutrons, and large amounts of energy [1]. 2H + 3H → 4He + n + 17.59 MeV (1)In the present work, BaCe0.6Zr0.3Y0.1O3-α electrolyte (BCZY) was used to construct amperometric sensors for hydrogen monitoring. Firstly, BCZY powder was synthesized by the solid-state method and characterized using SEM and XRD. Secondly, it was sintered as a pellet and bound to an alumina tube to construct the electrochemical sensors. Finally, amperometric measurements were performed inside a stainless-steel reactor at 500 °C and applying 0.15 V between electrodes. The response of the sensors was evaluated using hydrogen and deuterium calibration mixtures. The concentration in the WE ranged from 150 to 300 ppm H2 or D2 in Ar. Argon was used in the CE as a cover gas. Finally, measurements with hydrogen and deuterium were compared to determine the isotope effect on the response.[1] J.Kenneth. Shultis, R.E. Faw, Fundamentals of nuclear science and engineering, Marcel Dekker, 2002.[2] E.C.C. de Souza, R. Muccillo, Properties and applications of perovskite proton conductors, Materials Research. 13 (2010) 385–394. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-14392010000300018.[3] A. Benes, A. Molinari, R. Witte, R. Kruk, J. Brötz, R. Chellali, H. Hahn, O. Clemens, Proton Conduction in Grain-Boundary-Free Oxygen-Deficient BaFeO2.5+δ Thin Films, Materials. 11 (2017) 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11010052.[4] A. Hinojo, I. Soriano, J. Abellà, S. Colominas, Evaluation of High-Temperature Hydrogen Sensors Based on BaCe0.6Zr0.3Y0.1O3-α and Sr(Ce0.9Zr0.1)0.95Yb0.05O3-α Perovskites for Industrial Applications, Sensors. 20 (2020) 7258. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20247258.