Solid-state hydrogen sensors based on calixarene—12-phosphatotungstic acid composite electrolytes

• New proton-conductive composites based on calixarene and H3PW12O40 were prepared.
• The composites were used as a membrane in a potentiometric H2 sensor.
• The catalytic properties of the composites can be described by percolation theory.
• The sensor performance was determined by the composition of the composite system.
• The studied sensor is tolerant to minor CO impurities in hydrogen.

An electrochemical system sensitive to hydrogen was studied. A composite proton conductor based on calixarene sulfonic acid and 12-phosphotungstic acid was used as a solid electrolyte membrane. The system is tolerant to CO impurities (up to 200 ppm) in H2. The catalytic properties of the composite electrolyte can be described using percolation theory. Variation in the composition of the solid composite electrolyte in the investigated system allowed to adjust its properties and improve the performance of potentiometric hydrogen sensors under ambient conditions.

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