Electrochemical sensor for the detection of hydrogen chloride
First Claim
1. An electrochemical sensor for the detection of hydrogen chloride, comprising:
- a housing, the housing having disposed therein a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode, the electrochemically active surface of the working electrode comprising a gold film having a thickness in the range of approximately 1000 Å
to approximately 3000 Å
, the gold film of the working electrode having been exposed to an atmosphere containing hydrogen sulfide of a sufficient concentration for a sufficient length of time to decrease a sensitivity of the working electrode to hydrogen sulfide by at least approximately 50 percent, the electrochemical sensor further comprising an electrolyte present within the housing maintaining electrical connection between the working electrode and the counter electrode; and
circuitry maintaining the working electrode at a potential in the range of approximately 1025 mV to approximately 1400 mV versus the normal hydrogen electrode.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor for the detection of hydrogen chloride. In general, the electrochemical sensor comprises a housing having disposed therein a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode. The electrochemically active surface of the working electrode preferably comprises a gold film having a thickness of approximately 1000 to 3000 Å. Electrical connection is maintained between the working electrode and the counter electrode via an electrolyte present within the housing. The electrochemical gas sensor preferably further comprises circuitry for maintaining the working electrode at a potential in the range of approximately 1025 to approximately 1400 mV versus the normal hydrogen electrode. The present invention also provides a method of using such a sensor to detect hydrogen chloride.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrochemical sensor for the detection of hydrogen chloride, comprising:
- a housing, the housing having disposed therein a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode, the electrochemically active surface of the working electrode comprising a gold film having a thickness in the range of approximately 1000 Å
to approximately 3000 Å
, the gold film of the working electrode having been exposed to an atmosphere containing hydrogen sulfide of a sufficient concentration for a sufficient length of time to decrease a sensitivity of the working electrode to hydrogen sulfide by at least approximately 50 percent, the electrochemical sensor further comprising an electrolyte present within the housing maintaining electrical connection between the working electrode and the counter electrode; and
circuitry maintaining the working electrode at a potential in the range of approximately 1025 mV to approximately 1400 mV versus the normal hydrogen electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a housing, the housing having disposed therein a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode, the electrochemically active surface of the working electrode comprising a gold film having a thickness in the range of approximately 1000 Å
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11. An electrochemical sensor for the detection of hydrogen chloride, comprising:
- a housing, the housing having disposed therein a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode, the electrochemically active surface of the working electrode comprising a gold film having a thickness in the range of approximately 1000 Å
to approximately 3000 Å and
having been exposed to an atmosphere containing hydrogen sulfide of a sufficient concentration for a sufficient length of time to render it generally at least as sensitive to hydrogen chloride as to hydrogen sulfide, the electrochemical sensor further comprising an electrolyte present within the housing maintaining electrical connection between the working electrode and the counter electrode; and
circuitry maintaining the working electrode at a potential in the range of approximately 1025 mV to approximately 1400 mV versus the normal hydrogen electrode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a housing, the housing having disposed therein a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode, the electrochemically active surface of the working electrode comprising a gold film having a thickness in the range of approximately 1000 Å
Specification