Fast Hydrogen Detection via Optical Fibers Coated with Metal Hydride Thin Films

Detection of leaks in hydrogen (H2) infrastructure is required on a large scale to enable a safe widespread use of this clean energy source. Sensing solutions must be low-cost, use scalable fabrication methods and allow multiplexed detection while providing reliable safety alarms as fast as possible. Optical methods can make this possible while avoiding the risk of ignition due to electronics at the point of detection. Metal hydride-based micro-mirror configurations benefit from a simple interrogation scheme, as long as the sensitive element can produce a large optical response. Magnesium thin films undergo a drastic variation of properties when hydrogenated, making them suitable for this application. In this work, a micro-mirror device using single-mode fibers capable of detecting the presence of H2 with a loading t10 and t90 of 1.2 and 3.0 s, respectively, is demonstrated. A complete interrogation unit was developed, presenting a solution suited for widespread deployment using industry-standard optical components and equipment.