Hydrogen in nano-layered metal hydrides for hydrogen sensing applications

Reliable, precise and cheap hydrogen sensors functioning under a wide range of conditions are a key for using hydrogen as an energy carrier. A novel, safe and cheap way to detect hydrogen is using optical sensors based on thin film metal hydrides. Recently, we found that thin film hafnium and tantalum are capable of detecting hydrogen owing to their thermodynamics strongly deviating from bulk material. Although Hf and Ta can be used over a wide range pressure range, their applicability at room temperature is limited. Therefore, we consider other materials (TaRu, TaPd) that have similar beneficial properties as hafnium and tantalum but may be used at and below room temperature. We propose to study the hydrogenation and expansion of these materials to gain insights in their thermodynamics. This not only helps our fundamental understanding but also aids the development of new materials.