Unique Hydrogen Monitor for University’s Government Project

Bangor University in Wales approached Quantitech Ltd, a specialist instrumentation company based in Milton Keynes, when it needed the latest Hydrogen monitoring technology for an in-depth research and development project in advanced photovoltaics using metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD).

This project, in collaboration with the nationwide Supergen initiative 'Photovoltaic for the 21st Century' (PV21), will enable research and development of the next generation of low-cost thin film photovoltaic modules for renewable energy. The scheme is being funded by the Welsh Assembly Government through the Technology Transfer Centre of the Knowledge Exploitation Funds.

Quantitech has recently been appointed to distribute a range of unique Hydrogen monitors in the UK and Ireland by H2scan Corporation (California) and was contacted by the University searching for an in-situ hydrogen detector to ensure the safe use of hydrogen gas in its MOCVD chamber.

The H2scan HY OPTIMA 700 analyser will principally be used before and after deposition for safety reasons and to determine whether the chamber can be safely opened by the operator. This process should only take place with a low percentage of residual hydrogen, once the chamber has been flushed with nitrogen.

H2scan has developed a range of advanced portable and fixed monitors for the specific measurement of hydrogen in mixtures, without interference from other gases. Dr Vincent Barrioz from the University’s School of Chemistry explained, “We are using the H2scan technology primarily for safety monitoring of hydrogen levels in the deposition chamber and on the product testing side we will see if it can be used during the deposition process.

“It is all part of a larger research and development project looking at the deposition chamber and the process of photovoltaic production. We are confident that the HY OPTIMA 700 will provide us with the accurate readings we require. We chose the H2scan instrument for reasons of cost and instrument sensitivity.”

H2scan’s hydrogen specific solid-state sensing technology is able to detect hydrogen from 15 ppm to 100% over a wide range of temperatures against virtually any background gases without false readings or expensive support equipment.