Metal/metal oxide sensor apparatus and methods regarding same
First Claim
1. A method for use in providing an electrochemical pH sensing apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing an electrically conductive electrode element, wherein the conductive electrode element comprises a surface, wherein at least the surface of the conductive electrode element comprises titanium (Ti); and
oxidizing at least a portion of the surface of the conductive electrode element resulting in the formation of a discontinuous titanium oxide (TiOx) layer, wherein oxidizing the at least a portion of the surface of the conductive electrode element comprises thermally treating the at least a portion of the surface of the conductive electrode element in the presence of at least one oxygen containing media.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various pH sensor apparatus, and methods of providing such apparatus, include using a hydrogen ion (H+) sensitive element formed of a corrosion-resistant metal, such as titanium or zirconium. The pH sensitive element makes use of a discontinuous metal oxide layer, e.g., titanium dioxide, formed on a surface of the metal hydrogen ion (H+) sensitive element (e.g., titanium wire core element). Preferably, the discontinuous metal oxide layer is formed by thermal treatment in the presence of an oxygen containing media. The pH sensor apparatus may be used with any of a range of standard reference electrodes for providing the pH measurement. Further, a pH sensor apparatus can be used as a reference electrode with a hydrogen sensing electrode, e.g., a fine gold wire, for measuring dissolved hydrogen (H2) concentrations.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method for use in providing an electrochemical pH sensing apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing an electrically conductive electrode element, wherein the conductive electrode element comprises a surface, wherein at least the surface of the conductive electrode element comprises titanium (Ti); and
oxidizing at least a portion of the surface of the conductive electrode element resulting in the formation of a discontinuous titanium oxide (TiOx) layer, wherein oxidizing the at least a portion of the surface of the conductive electrode element comprises thermally treating the at least a portion of the surface of the conductive electrode element in the presence of at least one oxygen containing media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for use in providing an electrochemical pH sensing apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing an electrically conductive elongated wire element comprising a surface extending from a first end to a second distal end thereof, wherein at least the surface of the conductive elongated wire element comprises a metal (M);
forming a discontinuous metal oxide (MxOy) layer on at least a portion of the surface proximate the second distal end of the conductive elongated wire element;
providing an insulating layer on at least a portion of the conductive elongated wire element resulting in an insulated portion of the conductive elongated wire element and a sensing portion at the second distal end of the conductive elongated wire element, wherein the sensing portion comprises exposed metal through the discontinuous metal oxide layer; and
providing a conductive support housing about at least a portion of the insulated portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for use in providing an electrochemical hydrogen (H2) sensing apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing an electrically conductive elongated wire element comprising a surface extending from a first end to a second end thereof, wherein at least the surface of the conductive elongated wire element comprises a metal (M);
forming a discontinuous metal oxide (MxOy) layer on at least a portion of the surface proximate the second end of the conductive elongated wire element, wherein at least a portion of the electrically conductive elongated wire element proximate the second end having the discontinuous metal oxide layer formed thereon is used to provide a reference sensing portion;
providing a conductive layer adjacent to the conductive elongated wire element from the first end to the second end thereof but isolated from the conductive elongate wire element by a first insulating layer, wherein the conductive layer comprises a conductive material proximate at least the second end to provide a hydrogen sensing portion;
providing a second insulating layer over at least the conductive layer such that the reference sensing portion and the hydrogen sensing portion at the second end are exposed; and
providing a conductive support housing about at least a portion of the second insulating layer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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34. A method of providing an electrochemical hydrogen (H2) sensing apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing an elongated electrode assembly, wherein providing the elongated electrode assembly comprises;
providing a first conductive portion extending from a first end of the elongated electrode assembly to a second end of the elongated electrode assembly, wherein the first conductive portion comprises a metal core having a discontinuous metal oxide layer formed on at least a portion of a surface of the metal core;
providing a second conductive portion extending from the first end of the elongated electrode assembly to the second end of the elongated electrode assembly, wherein the second conductive portion comprises a conductive material for use in sensing hydrogen (H2); and
providing an isolation material extending from the first end of the elongated electrode assembly to the second end of the elongated electrode assembly electrically isolating the first conductive portion from the second conductive portion; and
providing an insulating material over the elongated electrode assembly resulting in an exposed sensing portion at the second end of the elongated electrode assembly, wherein the exposed sensing portion comprises exposed metal through the discontinuous metal oxide layer of the first conductive portion and exposed conductive material of the second conductive portion; and
providing a conductive support housing about at least a portion of the insulating material.
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44. An electrochemical pH sensing apparatus comprising:
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an electrically conductive wire core extending between a first end and a second end along an axis, wherein at least a surface of the wire core comprises titanium (Ti);
a discontinuous titanium oxide (TiOx) layer on at least a portion of the surface of the wire core;
an insulating layer formed relative to the discontinuous titanium oxide layer formed on at least a portion of the wire core so as to provide a sensing portion at the second end of the wire core, wherein the sensing portion comprises exposed titanium through openings in the discontinuous titanium oxide layer; and
a conductive support housing electrically isolated from at least the wire core by the insulating layer. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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48. An electrochemical pH sensing apparatus comprising:
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an electrically conductive elongated wire core extending between a first end and a second end along an axis thereof, wherein at least a surface of the wire core comprises a metal (M);
a discontinuous metal oxide (MxOy) layer provided on at least a portion of the surface proximate the second end of the wire core;
an insulating layer provided on at least a portion of the discontinuous metal oxide layer resulting in an insulated portion of the wire core and also a sensing portion at the second end of the wire core, wherein the sensing portion comprises exposed metal through openings in the discontinuous metal oxide layer; and
a conductive support housing about at least a portion of the insulated portion.
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53. An electrochemical hydrogen (H2) sensing apparatus comprising:
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an electrically conductive elongated wire core element extending between a first and second end of the apparatus along an axis thereof, wherein at least a surface of the wire core element comprises a metal (M);
a discontinuous metal oxide (MxOy) layer formed on at least a portion of the surface of the wire core element proximate the second end;
a conductive layer extending along the axis, wherein the conductive layer comprises a conductive material for use in sensing hydrogen;
a first insulating layer located to electrically isolate the conductive layer from the conductive elongated wire core element;
a second insulating layer formed over at least a portion of the conductive layer resulting in a sensing portion at the second end of the apparatus, wherein the sensing portion comprises at least a portion of the conductive wire core element having the discontinuous metal oxide layer formed thereon and exposed conductive material; and
a conductive support housing about at least a portion of the second insulating layer. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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58. An electrochemical hydrogen (H2) sensing apparatus comprising:
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an elongated electrode assembly, wherein the elongated electrode assembly comprises;
a first conductive portion extending from a first end of the elongated electrode assembly to a second end of the elongated electrode assembly, wherein the first conductive portion comprises a metal core with a discontinuous metal oxide layer formed on at least a portion of a surface of the metal core;
a second conductive portion extending from the first end of the elongated electrode assembly to the second end of the elongated electrode assembly, wherein the second conductive portion comprises a conductive material for use in sensing hydrogen; and
an isolation material extending from the first end of the elongated electrode assembly to the second end of the elongated electrode assembly electrically isolating the first conductive portion from the second conductive portion; and
an insulating material formed over the elongated electrode assembly resulting in a sensing portion at the first end of the elongated electrode assembly, wherein the sensing portion comprises exposed metal through openings in the discontinuous metal oxide layer of the first conductive portion and exposed conductive material of the second conductive portion; and
a conductive support housing provided about at least a portion of the insulating material.
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65. An electrochemical pH sensing electrode apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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an electrically conductive electrode element, wherein the conductive electrode element comprises a surface, wherein at least the surface of the conductive electrode element comprises one of titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr); and
a discontinuous oxide layer on at least a portion of the surface of the conductive electrode element, wherein the discontinuous oxide layer comprises one of titanium oxide (TiOx) and zirconium oxide (ZrOx), and further wherein openings in the discontinuous oxide layer allow for sensing of hydrogen ions at the surface of the conductive electrode element for use in determining pH of a composition when immersed therein. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68)
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Specification