TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Hydrogen Contamination Detector
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
This is a Technology Licensing Opportunity from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for a novel Hydrogen Contamination Detector (HCD). This invention provides real-time detection of harmful impurities in hydrogen fuel, crucial for protecting fuel-cell vehicles and supporting the hydrogen economy. Interested parties should contact LANL for licensing discussions by February 13, 2026.
Technology Overview
The HCD addresses the challenge of current slow, expensive, and post-facto hydrogen quality testing methods. Even tiny impurities (e.g., CO, H₂S) can permanently damage sensitive fuel-cell systems. The LANL solution is an electrochemical detector based on PEM fuel cell materials, featuring an ultra-low Pt-loaded sense electrode hypersensitized to impurities. A key innovation is its patented internal water reservoir and wicking mechanism, allowing it to function effectively with completely dry hydrogen, a major advantage over traditional sensors that require humidification. The HCD applies a voltage to pump hydrogen, and a decrease in current indicates contamination. It can track impurity levels and is continuously reset by a high voltage pulse.
Key Advantages
- True Real-time Monitoring: Detects contaminants instantly, before they reach vehicles or equipment.
- Dry Hydrogen Compatibility: Works without humidifying the gas stream, allowing accurate measurement of all impurities, including water.
- Infrastructure Compatible: Uses proven PEM fuel-cell components, suitable for high-pressure hydrogen delivery lines.
- Protects Investments: Prevents costly damage to fuel-cell stacks.
- Enables Hydrogen Economy: Provides reliability and safety assurance for widespread adoption.
Market Applications
- Hydrogen Production & Distribution
- Fueling Infrastructure
- Fuel-Cell Vehicle & Equipment Manufacturers
- Industrial Hydrogen Users
- Testing, Certification & Safety Organizations
Licensing Details
LANL offers exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements for patented and patent-pending inventions like the HCD (US Patent No. 10,490,833 B1, TRL 6). This is not a call for external services for technology development. For specific discussions, contact the Feynman Center for Innovation.
Timeline
- Response Due: February 13, 2026
- Published: January 22, 2026