Hybrid film type sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor cell for detecting gases comprising:
- a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
a sensing electrode;
said sensing electrode in contact with said substrate;
an opening extending from said first surface to said second surface proximate to said sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow;
a gas diffusion membrane in contact with said sensing electrode and placed within said opening and between the gases to be detected and said sensing electrode;
a thickness of said gas diffusion membrane calculated based upon a parameter selected from the group consisting of a material of said gas diffusion membrane, a difference in partial pressure of the gas across said gas diffusion membrane, a permeability coefficient of said gas diffusion membrane, and combinations thereof; and
said gas diffusion membrane is a proton exchange membrane.
2 Assignments
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.
28 Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A sensor cell for detecting gases comprising:
-
a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
a sensing electrode;
said sensing electrode in contact with said substrate;
an opening extending from said first surface to said second surface proximate to said sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow;
a gas diffusion membrane in contact with said sensing electrode and placed within said opening and between the gases to be detected and said sensing electrode;
a thickness of said gas diffusion membrane calculated based upon a parameter selected from the group consisting of a material of said gas diffusion membrane, a difference in partial pressure of the gas across said gas diffusion membrane, a permeability coefficient of said gas diffusion membrane, and combinations thereof; and
said gas diffusion membrane is a proton exchange membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A sensor cell for detecting gases comprising:
-
a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
a sensing electrode;
said sensing electrode in contact with said substrate;
an opening extending from said first surface to said second surface proximate to said sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow;
a gas diffusion membrane being of polymeric material in contact with said sensing electrode and placed within said opening and between the gases to be detected and said sensing electrode;
a thickness of said gas diffusion membrane calculated based upon a parameter selected from the group consisting of a material of said gas diffusion membrane, a difference in partial pressure of the gas across said gas diffusion membrane, a permeability coefficient of said gas diffusion membrane, and combinations thereof; and
wherein said gas diffusion membrane is an electrolytic material.
-
-
4. A sensor cell for detecting gases comprising:
-
a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
a sensing electrode;
said sensing electrode in contact with said substrate;
an opening extending from said first surface to said second surface proximate to said sensing electrode for controlling a gas flow;
a gas diffusion membrane being of electrolytic material in contact with said sensing electrode and placed within said opening and between the gases to be detected and said sensing electrode. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
Specification