Electrolyte composition for screen printing and miniaturized oxygen electrode and production process thereof

• US 5,281,323 A
• Filed: 03/13/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiroaki, Sugama, Akio, Kojima, Naomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Niebling, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US07/850,834
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 204/403, 204/415, 204/153.17
• US Class Current: 204/403.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/404 Cells with anode, cathode and cell electrolyte on the same side of a permeable membrane which separates them from the sample fluid , e.g. Clark-type oxygen sensors

Abstract

An electrolyte composition for screen printing, comprising: an organic solvent; an inorganic salt in the form of a fine powder able to pass through a screen printing mesh, the salt powder being dispersed in the organic solvent; and polyvinyl pyrrolidone dissolved in the organic solvent A miniaturized oxygen electrode having an oxygen sensing site filled with the electrolyte composition. A process for producing a miniaturized oxygen electrode, including a step of patterning or selectively removing an oxygen gas-permeable membrane at a pad region by removing or peeling off an underlying cover film formed thereunder.

Claims

1. A miniaturized oxygen electrode comprising:

an electrically insulating substrate;

an electrolyte-containing material disposed on said substrate;

a set of component electrodes in contact with said electrolyte-containing material and disposed on said substrate; and

an oxygen gas-permeable membrane covering said electrolyte-containing material;

said electrolyte-containing material including an electrolyte composition comprising;

an organic solvent;

an inorganic salt in the form of a fine powder, said salt powder being dispersed in said organic solvent; and

polyvinyl pyrrolidone dissolved in said organic solvent.

2. A miniaturized oxygen electrode according to claim 1, wherein said inorganic salt is selected from potassium chloride and sodium chloride.

3. A miniaturized oxygen electrode according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte composition further comprises a buffering agent.

4. A miniaturized oxygen electrode according to claim 3, wherein said buffering agent is selected from the group consisting of phosphate, acetate, borate, citrate, phthalate, tetraborate, glycine salt, and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt.

5. A miniaturized oxygen electrode according to claim 2, wherein said electrolyte composition further comprises a buffering agent.

6. A miniaturized oxygen electrode comprising:

an electrically insulating substrate;

an electrolyte-containing material disposed on said substrate;

a set of component electrodes disposed on said substrate and each having an end in contact with said electrolyte-containing material and an end for external electrical connection;

a removable cover film disposed on said substrate; and

an oxygen gas-permeable membrane covering said substrate in at least a portion containing said electrolyte-containing material;

said oxygen gas-permeable membrane being removable from said substrate in a region containing said end for external electrical connection by removing said removable cover film interposed between said substrate and said oxygen gas-permeable membrane.

7. A miniaturized oxygen electrode according to claim 6, wherein electrolyte-containing material is composed of an inorganic salt and polyvinyl pyrrolidone.