Pt/WO₃ Nanoparticle-Dispersed Polydimethylsiloxane Membranes for Transparent and Flexible Hydrogen Gas Leakage Sensors

Hydrogen gas is a promising, clean, and highly efficient energy source. However, to use combustible H2 gas safety, high-performance and safe gas leakage sensors are required. In this study, transparent and flexible platinum-catalyst-loaded tungsten trioxide (Pt/WO3) nanoparticle-dispersed membranes were prepared as H2 gas leakage sensors. The nanoparticle-dispersed membrane with a Pt:W compositional ratio of 1:13 was transparent and exhibited a sufficient color change in response to H2 gas. The membrane containing 0.75 wt.% of Pt/WO3 nanoparticles exhibited high transparency over a wide wavelength range and the largest transmittance change in response to H2 gas among the others. The heat treatment of the particles at 573 K provided sufficient crystallinity and an accessible area for a gasochromic reaction, resulting in a rapid and sensitive response to the presence of H2 gas. The lower limit of detection of the optimized Pt/WO3 nanoparticle-dispersed membrane by naked eye was 0.4%, which was one-tenth of the minimum explosive concentration. This novel membrane was transparent as well as flexible and exhibited a clear and rapid color response to H2. Therefore, it is an ideal candidate sensor for the safe and easy detection of H2 gas leakage.