Flexible hydrogen sensors using graphene with palladium nanoparticle decoration

Flexible hydrogen gas (H-2) sensors are fabricated using a single layer graphene decorated with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles. Thermally evaporated Pd is generally deposited on a graphene in the form of nanoparticles when the deposition thickness is very small. The graphene sensor with Pd thickness of 3 nm exhibits a gas response of similar to 33% when exposed to 1000 ppm H-2 and iris able to detect as low as 20 ppm H-2 at room temperature (22 degrees C). The sensor is so flexible that any significant degradation is not observed when it is bent to a curved geometry with a bending radius of 3 mm. The flexible hydrogen sensors are applicable to a broad range of systems with demanding mechanical flexibility, durability and high gas response. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.