Hybrid film type sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor cell for detecting gases comprising:
- a substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
a sensing electrode;
said sensing electrode in contact with said second surface;
an opening extending from said first surface to said second surface proximate to said sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow; and
a gas diffusion membrane in contact with and extending from said first surface to said sensing electrode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniaturized gas sensor comprised of thick- or thin-film type electrodes, on a non-conductive supportive substrate, and in contact with a solid ionomer electrolyte, for the detection of toxic gases, i.e., carbon monoxide, and other oxidizable or reducible gases and vapors is described. The all-solid planar sensor cell has two or more film type electrodes arranged on a non-conductive planar surface of a supportive substrate. The electrodes are discrete and in intimate contact with the same solid polymer ionomer membrane. The sensor cell contains no liquid electrolyte and is operated in a constant-voltage, potentiostatic or potentiodynamic mode. A high sensitivity to a select gas or vapor is achieved by a novel three-phase contact area design for a sensing electrode which provides contact with the solid ionomer electrolyte, as well as the gas sample via diffusion openings or holes that penetrate through the supportive substrate.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A sensor cell for detecting gases comprising:
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a substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
a sensing electrode;
said sensing electrode in contact with said second surface;
an opening extending from said first surface to said second surface proximate to said sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow; and
a gas diffusion membrane in contact with and extending from said first surface to said sensing electrode. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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2. (canceled)
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3. (canceled)
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19. A sensor cell for detecting gases comprising:
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a substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
a sensing electrode;
said sensing electrode in contact with said second surface;
an opening extending from said first surface to said second surface proximate to said sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow; and
a gas diffusion membrane being of polymeric material in contact with and extending from first surface to said sensing electrode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 22)
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21. (canceled)
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23. (canceled)
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24. A method for detecting gases comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
placing an electrode in contact with the substrate;
extending an opening from the first surface to the second surface proximate to the sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow;
placing a gas diffusion membrane within the opening and between the gases to be detected and the sensing electrode; and
calculating a thickness of the gas diffusion membrane based upon a parameter selected from the group consisting of a material of the gas diffusion membrane, a difference in partial pressure of the gas across the gas diffusion membrane, a permeability coefficient of the gas diffusion membrane, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for detecting gases comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
placing an electrode in contact with the substrate;
extending an opening from the first surface to the second surface proximate to the sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow;
placing a gas diffusion membrane of polymeric material within the opening and between the gases to be detected and the sensing electrode; and
calculating a thickness of the gas diffusion membrane based upon a parameter selected from the group consisting of a material of the gas diffusion membrane, a difference in partial pressure of the gas across the gas diffusion membrane, a permeability coefficient of the gas diffusion membrane, and combinations thereof.
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Specification