Robust thin film hydrogen permeation sensor at near-room temperature

One of the elements that shows promising contributions to the continuous global growth is hydrogen. With its many applications such electrochemistry, energy carrier, and the possible future hydrogen fusion reactions, it is widely studied. The diffusion of hydrogen through materials, also known as permeation, is of special interest for applications as hydrogen separation and possible hydrogen loss through protective layers. Additionally, as hydrogen is considered to be present as radical or ion in energetic environments such as fusion reactors, the fundamentals of diffusion and permeation are becoming important. The presence of hydrogen radicals, ions, and plasma can affect the diffusion through material.
As many forms of energetic hydrogen will very likely play a role in the future use of hydrogen for its many applications, a sensor to test the hydrogen permeation through thin films is important. By the use of an optical changing sensing material underneath a thin film, the diffusion of hydrogen can be measured. By measuring the optical change during exposure to different hydrogen environments, the permeation is measured. With this sensor design a range of thin films can be tested to assist the growth of hydrogen technologies beyond its boundaries.