A Hydrogen Sensor Using SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3-α as Proton Conductor and YHx+YH2−z as Reference Electrode for Determining Hydrogen Pressure in Solid Steel

The steel contains a small amount of hydrogen which will escape during the heat treatment. The hydrogen pressure in 16MnRE steel was investigated with a hydrogen sensor, which used SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3−a proton conductor as a solid electrolyte, YHx+YH2−z as a solid state reference electrode and Ni wire as electrode constructing a hydrogen concentration cell, shown as Ni|YHx+YH2−z|SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3−a |[H]steel|Ni. The response time of sensor is less than 10 s. The relational expression of hydrogen partial pressure with temperatures was determined using two shape proton conductors. The results showed the regularity in experimental temperature range, and the hydrogen partial pressure increased as its temperature was raised.