Effect of Noble Metals on Hydrogen Sensing Properties of Metal Oxide-based Gas Sensors

As a green and abundant source of energy, H2 has attracted the attention of researchers for use in different applications. Nevertheless, it is highly flammable, and because of its significantly small size, extreme attention is needed to detect its leakage. In this review, we discuss different effects of noble metals on the H2 gas response and performance of metal oxide-based gas sensors. In this regard, we discuss the effects of noble metals, in combination with metal oxides, on H2 gas detection. The catalytic activity towards H2 gas and the formation of heterojunctions with metal oxides are the main contributions of noble metals to the sensing improvement of H2 gas sensors. Furthermore, in the special case of Pd and somewhat Pt, the formation of PdHx and PtHx also affects the H2 sensing performance. This review paper provides useful information for researchers working in the field of H2 gas detection.