A miniaturized optical emission spectrometry based on a needle-plate electrode discharge as a light source for room temperature hydrogen sensing with Pt/CNT nanocomposites

A miniaturized and simple optical emission spectrometry was developed using needle-plate electrodes discharge as a light source. Based on Pt/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites-decorated fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode, the system can be applied to sensing hydrogen at room temperature with improved analytical performance using an alternating current voltage of 1.32 kV with the power consumption of 13 W in nitrogen (N2) carrier. The emission line of hydrogen at 656 nm served as the analytical line. Under the optimum condition, the emission intensity was linearly correlated to the hydrogen concentration in the range of 0.17-4.0% (v/v). The developed system also tested oxygen and sodium determination, showing flexibility of this method.