Electrochemical sensor having improved response time
First Claim
1. An electrochemical gas sensor for detecting a gas, comprising:
- a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
an ionomer membrane in contact with said first surface and having a proximal outermost surface and a distal outermost surface;
an electrode in contact with said first surface;
an opening in said ionomer membrane extending from said proximal outermost surface to said distal outermost surface in a location proximate to said electrode for defining a passage for gas to simultaneously contact said electrode and said ionomer membrane within said opening;
said substrate further including at least one hole extending from said first surface to said second surface for permitting moisture to diffuse through said at least one hole to contact said ionomer membrane;
a reservoir for containing moisture to moisten said ionomer membrane; and
said reservoir is located on a side of said substrate opposite said ionomer membrane.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing an electrochemical gas sensor having improved response time for detecting a gas introduced into the sensor. The sensor includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and an electrode deposited on the first surface. The sensor also includes an ionomer membrane in contact with the first surface and the electrode. The ionomer membrane has an opening in a location proximate to the electrode for permitting gas introduced into the sensor to diffuse through the opening to simultaneously contact the electrode and the ionomer membrane within the opening. The substrate further includes at least one hole extending from the first surface to the second surface for permitting moisture to diffuse through the at least one hole to contact the ionomer membrane for enhancing sensitivity.
36 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrochemical gas sensor for detecting a gas, comprising:
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a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
an ionomer membrane in contact with said first surface and having a proximal outermost surface and a distal outermost surface;
an electrode in contact with said first surface;
an opening in said ionomer membrane extending from said proximal outermost surface to said distal outermost surface in a location proximate to said electrode for defining a passage for gas to simultaneously contact said electrode and said ionomer membrane within said opening;
said substrate further including at least one hole extending from said first surface to said second surface for permitting moisture to diffuse through said at least one hole to contact said ionomer membrane;
a reservoir for containing moisture to moisten said ionomer membrane; and
said reservoir is located on a side of said substrate opposite said ionomer membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting a gas, comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate having a surface;
providing at least one hole in the substrate that extends from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate;
depositing an electrode on the first surface;
contacting an ionomer membrane with the electrode;
providing an opening in the ionomer membrane extending from a proximal outermost surface to a distal outermost surface in an approximate area of the electrode;
introducing a gas into the opening toward the electrode;
simultaneously contacting the gas with both the electrode and ionomer membrane;
providing a reservoir containing moisture to moisten the ionomer membrane; and
positioning the reservoir on a side of the substrate opposite the ionomer membrane. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification