Method and apparatus for improving the performance of an electrochemical sensor

• US 20050194264A1
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Perkinelmer Las
• Inventors: Dalmia, Avinash
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/775
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/38 Cleaning of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4045 for gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0044 Sulphides, e.g. H2S

Abstract

The present teachings relate to systems and methods for oxidizing a sensor having a substrate, an electrode in contact with the substrate, and an electrolytic material in contact with the electrode, where oxidizing includes applying an oxidizing potential (between approximately 350 mV and 700 mV) to the electrode. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include hydrating the sensor by applying a hydrating potential (between approximately 0 mV and −500 mV) to the electrode. In some embodiments, the applied potential can vary cyclically between an oxidizing and hydrating potential.

Claims

1. A method for oxidizing a sensor, the sensor comprising a substrate, an electrode in contact with the substrate, and an electrolytic material in contact with the electrode, the method comprising:

applying an oxidizing potential to the electrode, the oxidizing potential between approximately 350 mV and approximately 700 mV.

2. A method according to claim 1, where applying an oxidizing potential comprises:

determining a time for applying the oxidizing potential based on at least one measurement of;

concentration of impurity before applying the oxidizing potential, and

concentration of impurity after applying the oxidizing potential.

3. A method according to claim 1, where applying an oxidizing potential comprises:

applying the oxidizing potential for a time duration such that the concentration of impurity after applying the oxidizing potential is less than approximately ten percent of the concentration of impurity before applying the oxidizing potential.

4. A method according to claim 1, where applying an oxidizing potential comprises:

applying the oxidizing potential for a time duration such that the concentration of impurity after applying the oxidizing potential is less than approximately one percent of the concentration of impurity before applying the oxidizing potential.

5. A method according to claim 1, where applying an oxidizing potential comprises:

applying the oxidizing potential for approximately one hour.

6. A method according to claim 1, where applying an oxidizing potential includes:

determining a measuring potential at which a concentration of a gas component is determined, and,

selecting the oxidizing potential to be an increased potential when compared to the measuring potential.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising hydrating the sensor.

8. A method according to claim 7, where hydrating the sensor comprises:

applying a hydrating potential, the hydrating potential being a lower potential than the measuring potential.

9. A method according to claim 8, where applying the hydrating potential comprises:

determining a time for applying the hydrating potential, the time based on an amount of water and charge.

10. A method for hydrating a sensor, the sensor comprising a substrate, an electrode in contact with the substrate, and an electrolytic material in contact with the electrode, the method comprising:

applying a hydrating potential to the electrode, the hydrating potential between approximately 0 mV and approximately −

500 mV.

11. A method according to claim 10, where applying the hydrating potential comprises:

determining a time for applying the hydrating potential based on at least one measurement of;

an amount of moisture held by the electrolytic material before applying the hydrating potential; and

an amount of moisture held by the electrolytic material after applying the hydrating potential.

12. A method according to claim 10, where applying the hydrating potential comprises:

applying the hydrating potential for a time duration such that the amount of moisture after applying the hydrating potential is less than approximately twenty percent of the weight of the electrolytic material.

13. A method according to claim 10, where applying the hydrating potential comprises:

applying the hydrating potential for a time duration such that the amount of moisture after applying the hydrating potential is more that approximately ten percent of the weight of the electrolytic material.

14. A method according to claim 10, where applying the hydrating potential comprises applying the hydrating potential for approximately one hour.

15. A method according to claim 10, where applying the hydrating potential includes:

determining a measuring potential at which a concentration of a gas component is determined; and

,

selecting the hydrating potential to be a lowered potential when compared to the measuring potential.

16. A method according to claim 10, further comprising oxidating the sensor.

17. A method according to claim 16, where oxidating the sensor comprises:

applying an oxidating potential, the oxidating potential being a higher potential than the measuring potential.

18. A method according to claim 17, where applying the oxidating potential comprises:

determining a time for applying the oxidating potential, the time based on a concentration of impurity before applying the oxidating potential and a concentration of impurity after applying the oxidating potential.

19. A method for oxidizing and hydrating a sensor, the sensor comprising a substrate, an electrode in contact with the substrate, and an electrolytic material in contact with electrode, the method comprising:

establishing a measuring potential used to determine a concentration of a gas component in a mixtures of gases;

applying an oxidizing potential to the electrode, the first oxidizing potential being above the measuring potential; and

applying a hydrating potential to the electrode, the hydrating potential being below the measuring potential.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising oxidizing the electrode without disassembling the sensor.

21. A method according to claim 19, further comprising hydrating the electrolytic material without disassembling the sensor.

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising cyclically varying the potential between the oxidizing potential and the hydrating potential.

23. A method according to claim 19, further comprising removing impurities from the electrode without disassembling the sensor.

24. A method according to claim 19, further comprising maintaining a generally consistent potential above the measuring potential for reducing impurities.

25. A method according to claim 19, further comprising cyclically applying the measuring potential to the electrode to determine if a variance between the cyclical applications indicates a reduction of impurities.