Gas sensor with excellent selectivity to hydrogen gas

Gas sensors exhibiting high performance for various types of gases and excellent selectivity to hydrogen gas were prepared using sol–gel-derived proton-conducting glass films with well-designed Pt nanoparticles and manganese oxide as electrodes. Hydrogen and alcohols were oxidized at the Pt anode, followed by reduction at the MnO2 cathode, resulting in an electromotive force. In contrast, when Pt nanoparticles coated with a polymer film were used as the anode, the alcohol species were not oxidized, but only the oxidization of hydrogen gas was detected. This sensor exhibited high selectivity to hydrogen gas and presents great potential for practical applications.