SAW sensor employing Pd/Ni nanowire for super-fast hydrogen detection at room temperature

A Pd/Ni nanowire (NW) film coated surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor exhibited super-fast response as 2 s to 1 ∼ 3 v/v % hydrogen at room temperature (25 ℃). By using anode aluminum oxide (AAO) template-confined electrodeposition, the Pd/Ni NWs were prepared, and then deposited on the surface of the SAW device to build the SAW hydrogen sensor. The developed SAW sensor was integrated in a phase discriminating circuit, and experimentally characterized. The larger specific surface of Pd/Ni NW contributes well to improvement of the response time.