Dehydrogenation catalyst for optical organic-hydride detection

The leak detection of organic hydrides, which are approvable carriers to store and transport hydrogen, has importance for safe usage. The potential use of hydrogen gasochromic materials was investigated with the combination of dehydrogenation catalysts for this purpose. The dehydrogenation activity of catalytic metals which are Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Ni, and Cu, was determined with loading alumina pellets with a content of 1 wt.% for 5% cyclohexane as a organic hydride in N2 gas. The hydrogen generation was observed over 100 °C for Pt and Pd, and over 150 °C for Rh and almost negligible for other metals. The Pt and Pd were selected as dehydrogenation catalysts to be combined with WO3 of hydrogen gasochromic materials. The WO3 films covered with Pt and Pd were prepared by a reactive RF-sputtering. The coloration of as prepared film was observed over 150 °C when exposing with cyclohexane in N2 gases. We found that Pt/WO3 and Pd/WO3 films heated to around 200 °C were applicable to optical organic-hydride sensors.