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Titania Nanotubes for Hydrogen Sensors?
Roland Piquepaille writes "Everybody is talking about carbon nanotubes these days. But what about titania nanotubes? Penn State researchers think they have a great potential for sensing hydrogen . According to this news release, "titania nanotubes are 1500 times better than the next best material for sensing hydrogen and may be one of the first examples of materials properties changing dramatically when crossing the border between real world sizes and nanoscopic dimensions, according to a Penn State materials scientist." And now, the very good news: titania nanotubes are cheap. So they'll be used in industrial quality control in food plants and as weapons against terrorism. My summary contains some more details."
Now we will be able to detect the terrorists at they attempt to crash Zeplins into our buildings!
Everybody is talking about carbon nanotubes these days.
Yeah, can't walk down the street or ride a subway without hearing that incessant chatter about carbon nanotubes.
Well, sir, there's nothing on earth Like a genuine,Bona fide,Electrified, Titaniafied, Nanotube! What'd I say? Ned Flanders: Nanotube! Lyle Lanley: What's it called? Patty+Selma: Nanotube! Lyle Lanley: That's right! Nanotube! Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud... Lyle Lanley: But tt detects hydrogen clouds. Apu: Is there a chance the tube could bend? Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend. Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs? Lyle Lanley: You'll be given cushy jobs. Abe: Were you sent here by the devil? Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level. Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can. Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man. I swear it's Springfield's only choice... Throw up your hands and raise your voice! All: Nanotube! Lyle Lanley: What's it called? All: Nanotube! Lyle Lanley: Once again... All: Nanotube! Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken... Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken! All: Nanotube! Nanotube! Nanotube! [big finish] Nanotube! Homer: Nano... D'oh!
A lit match works for hydrogen detection as well as many gas hydrocarbons.
Actually, Hydrogen requires a higher fuel to air ratio than gasoline. It also disperses nearly instantly(well, except in confined/sealed areas of course)- whereas gasoline etc sink and pool(which is why your natural gas/propane water heater has that nice little picture of a gasoline can etc).
Oh, and since it's still not known enough- the Hindenburg burned because it was painted with the chemical equivalent of rocket fuel(the chemical composition of the paint etc is very close to solid rocket fuel)- not because it was full of Hydrogen, which, by itself, doesn't burn.
When it DOES burn, it burns a)instantly b)practically invisibly, c)with no smoke. Watch those films of the hindenburg, and note the a)slow b)bright yellow c)sooty fire.
It's interesting to note that hydrogen's qualities make it much safer should there be, say, an accident with a truck carrying it. It dissipates as it leaks, versus the major fire hazard/toxic waste problem created by a gasoline spill.
Please help metamoderate.