Experts from Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNiG) and the Silesian University of Technology are working on an innovative hydrogen detection sensor. The project has received funding from the National Centre for Research and Development.
The funding relates to the project ‘Low-temperature hydrogen sensors based on polycarbazole and its derivatives’. The work focuses on the development of sensors for detecting hydrogen in gas mixtures, also containing natural gas. These devices will be able to be used to test the hydrogen content of mixtures transported by distribution and transmission networks.
The innovation of the project is the use of polymer semiconductors (so-called conductive polymers). Currently, chromatographs are used to measure hydrogen in gas networks. However, these devices are expensive and require specialised handling. The sensors being developed by a consortium of PGNiG and the Silesian University of Technology are expected to be cheap to manufacture, reliable and easy to use.
