Novel Carbon Monoxide Sensor for PEM Fuel Cell Systems

Research has been conducted to develop a novel sensor for the detection of carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen and nitrogen. The automotive fuel cell application requires a sensor to detect low levels of carbon monoxide (~1ppm CO) in order to control the fuel processor. The novel sensing approach pursued here is based on the reversible adsorption of CO onto and complexation with a copper chloride film. When suitable film synthesis conditions are used, the resistance of the device exhibited a rapid and reversible sensitivity to carbon monoxide, even in the presence of 50vol % hydrogen