Hydrogen sensors for trace detection in indoor, outdoor and industrial environment

HYTS: HYdrogen Trace Sensing

Proposing Institution: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Name of the project’s Scientific Coordinator: Alessandro di Bona

E-mail address of the project’s Scientific Coordinator: alessandro.dibona@cnr.it

Other ECOSISTER partners involved in the project: UNIMORE, CNR-STEMS (Ferrara)

Coordinating Spoke: Spoke 1

Other Spokes involved in the project: Spoke 2, Spoke 4

Name of partners based in the South: CNR-STEMS – Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie per l’Energia e la Mobilità Sostenibili, Napoli.

Project duration (in months): 13

Starting TRL: 4

End TRL: 7

ATECO/industrial sector of potential reference: Scientific Research and Development (R&D), Hydrogen Technology and Infrastructure sector

Smart Specialization Strategy: Energy and sustainable growth

EU Taxonomy: Climate change mitigation

Abstract

The EU Commission's hydrogen strategy aims for hydrogen to meet 24% of global energy demand by 2050 and help decarbonize industries like steel and chemicals. While hydrogen burns cleanly, it acts as a potent indirect greenhouse gas by extending methane’s atmospheric presence and contributing to ozone and water vapor formation, which exacerbates climate change.

Monitoring hydrogen loss is crucial because leaks could undermine these climate benefits. Current detection methods may underestimate the extent of hydrogen loss, making accurate monitoring essential. Since hydrogen is costlier than natural gas, there are financial incentives to minimize leaks, supported by stringent safety protocols. Effectively managing these risks can ensure hydrogen's viability for future energy solutions while maintaining safety standards, especially in domestic low-pressure networks where its use is less likely.

The HYTS project focuses on developing advanced solutions for monitoring and preventing hydrogen leaks in industrial environments by utilizing chemiresistive sensors and IoT technologies. These sensors, which convert chemical reactions into electrical signals, provide benefits such as:

easy integration with electronic readouts
cost-effective fabrication
portability

As part of its deliverables, HYTS will establish a suitable environment and assess sensor performance in real situations, ensuring realistic testing and practical evaluations that advance hydrogen technologies.

HYTS will leverage a multidisciplinary approach, including:

materials science for rapid response and selective sensing materials
techniques for device miniaturization and optimization
characterization of the sensor in relevant environments or in the field
development of dedicated interface electronics
IoT technologies for data collection, cybersecurity, and monitoring
ATEX safety assessments for both the sensor and associated electronics

Expected Results

The HYTS project is set to deliver and validate a comprehensive hydrogen (H₂) leak monitoring system based on advanced chemiresistive sensors and dedicated interface electronics. Our key outcomes will focus on providing low-cost, low-energy, and user-friendly solutions that directly enhance safety and efficiency across the hydrogen supply chain.

The primary deliverables will be:

Development of Advanced Sensors: design and creation of new, highly sensitive, and selective H₂ sensors. These devices are engineered for rapid and reliable leak detection in a variety of environments—from industrial and storage facilities to mobility applications. Their adaptable design will significantly improve control and maintenance practices throughout the H₂ supply chain.
(Results categories: IDENTIFICATION PRODUCTS, SERVICES, DEVICES, MATERIALS and PROTOTYPING OF PRODUCTS, SERVICES, DEVICES, MATERIALS)
Versatile Interface Electronics: development of a compact, low-power readout interface. This user-friendly electronic system will simplify data acquisition and ensure portability and adaptability to various configurations, from production sites to storage plants.
(Results categories: IDENTIFICATION PRODUCTS, SERVICES, DEVICES, MATERIALS and PROTOTYPING OF PRODUCTS, SERVICES, DEVICES, MATERIALS)
Functional Demonstrator Prototype: integration of the sensors and electronics into a fully functional prototype demonstrator. This prototype will be rigorously tested in a specially designed environment that simulates real-world conditions, validating the system's performance and effectiveness in leak detection.
(Results categories: DEMONSTRATORS, PROTOTYPING OF PRODUCTS, SERVICES, DEVICES, MATERIALS, TESTING)

In summary, the HYTS project will provide a complete monitoring solution that combines cutting-edge technology with reduced costs, making safety and maintenance in the hydrogen industry more accessible and scalable.

Application Area

Sensor Technology, Hydrogen Technology and Infrastructure sector, Hydrogen Production, Storage and Distribution, Hydrogen Mobility, Safety, Efficiency and Maintenance