Electrochemical zirconia-based sensor for measuring hydrogen diffusion in inert gases

Abstract

Solid-state electrochemical sensors represent a convenient way for solving various electroanalytical tasks. In this work, we present a comprehensive analysis of binary gases composed of hydrogen mixed with an inert gas (He, Ar, N2). Using the fabricated aerometric-type YSZ-based electrolyte, diffusion coefficients for these binary gases were successfully determined in an electrochemical way in a temperature range of 550 °C–750 °C. The obtained results agree well with literature data, showing that the He+H2 gas mixture with highly volatile components exhibit the highest diffusion coefficients, which are around 2 times higher than that for Ar+H2 and N2 + H2.