Characterization of nanocrystalline palladium for solid state gas sensor applications

• Published in: Nanostructured materials 1995-03, Vol.5 (3), p.373-382
• Main Authors: Volkening, F.A., Naidoo, M.N., Candela, G.A., Holtz, R.L., Provenzano, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General equipment and techniques; General, instrumentation; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Physics; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing
• ISSN: 0965-9773; 1872-9150
• DOI: 10.1016/0965-9773(95)00242-7

Nanocrystalline Pd has been synthesized by the inert gas condensation technique, consolidated into pellets, and characterized by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The hydrogen gas absorption/desorption properties of these materials were investigated to demonstrate their application to solid state gas sensor development. These nanocrystalline materials exhibited fast response to hydrogen gas and complete recovery up to exposure to several percent of hydrogen. Suppression of the α-βphase transition also was observed. The temperature dependence of the response/recovery rates indicate that the rate controlling step for absorption is the dissociative chemisorption of hydrogen on the surface of the Pd, whereas for desorption, diffusion of hydrogen out of the palladium metal was rate controlling.