The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 08, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2007
Reginald Mark Penner, Laguna Beach, CA (US);
Erich C. Walter, Irvine, CA (US);
Fred Favier, Saint Clemente de Riviere, FR;
Reginald Mark Penner, Laguna Beach, CA (US);
Erich C. Walter, Irvine, CA (US);
Fred Favier, Saint Clemente de Riviere, FR;
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
A hydrogen gas sensor and/or switch fabricated from arrays nanowires composed of metal or metal alloys that have stable metal hydride phases. The sensor and/or switch response times make it quite suitable for measuring the concentration of hydrogen in a flowing gas stream. The sensor and/or switch preferably operates by measuring the resistance of several metal nanowires arrayed in parallel in the presence of hydrogen gas. The nanowires preferably comprise gaps or break junctions that can function as a switch that closes in the presence of hydrogen gas. Consequently, the conductivity of the nanowires of the sensor and/or switch increases in the presence of hydrogen.