The effect of hydrogen on the conductivity of Ag-Pd thick film resistors

The resistance of silver-palladium thick film resistors decreases and their surface conduction type changes upon heating in a flow of hydrogen at temperatures within 50–100°C or hydrogenation in an aqueous acid electrolyte at room temperature. These effects are due to the reduction of PdO (present in the Ag-Pd film) to Pd by hydrogen entering into the resistor material. In the electrolyte, the resistance of samples starts decreasing at the moment of the current being switched on.