The average beta energy of tritium decay is 5.7 keV, which is relatively low and makes it challenging to detect due to its weak penetrating power. Tritium has a half-life of 12.32 years, meaning it takes that long for half of its radioactive nuclei to decay, though its biological half-life in the human body is significantly shorter, typically on the order of days due to rapid excretion. 

The global inventory of tritium is estimated at approximately 35 kg, equivalent to about 200,000,000 Ci of radioactivity [1]. In a hypothetical 1 GWe fusion plant, ~ 432 grams of tritium are consumed per day, which is 158 kg per year [2]. For such a fusion plant to be self-sustaining, it must achieve a breeding ratio of at least 1.1 [3], i.e., to produce more tritium to replace what is burned. Like hydrogen, tritium exhibits high permeability through materials, making leakage control a critical but challenging issue. Inevitably, as fusion technology matures in the coming decades (hopefully), the proliferation of tritium will raise significant concerns due to its potential misuse and environmental impact.

At Ohio State University, Dr. Cao's research group has developed a specialized facility for tritium detection, production in small quantities, and handling, located at the OSU Nuclear Reactor Lab. Dr. Cao is the inventor of two patents focused on tritium detection and one related to tritium production. 

One of his key innovations is a high-sensitivity tritium detection system that combines gas detection with metal hydride technology. This system selectively adsorbs tritium and releases it into a gas chamber for precise, high-sensitivity detection. The technology, known as the Metal and Gas (MEGA) detector, has been granted a patent.

[1] Pearson, R. J., Antoniazzi, A. B., & Nuttall, W. J. (2018). Tritium supply and use: a key issue for the development of nuclear fusion energy. Fusion Engineering and Design, 136, 1140-1148.

[2] Asaoka, Y., Okano, K., Yoshida, T., & Tomabechi, K. (1996). Requirements of Tritium Breeding Ratio for Early Fusion Power Reactors. Fusion Technology, 30(3P2A), 853–863. https://doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963044

[3] Zheng, Shanliang, and Thomas N. Todd. "Study of impacts on tritium breeding ratio of a fusion DEMO reactor." Fusion Engineering and Design 98 (2015): 1915-1918.