Carbon dioxide gas sensors and method of manufacturing and using same

• US 8,052,854 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Ward, Benjamin J., Liu, Chung Chiun, Xu, Jennifer C., Hunter, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olsen; Kaj K
• Application Number:
  US11/754,255
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 204/400, 204/424, 204/426, 204/431, 205/784
• US Class Current: 204/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4074 for detection of gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2

Abstract

A gas sensor includes a substrate and a pair of interdigitated metal electrodes selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Au, Ir, Ag, Ru, Rh, In, and Os. The electrodes each include an upper surface. A first solid electrolyte resides between the interdigitated electrodes and partially engages the upper surfaces of the electrodes. The first solid electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of NASICON, LISICON, KSICON, and β″-Alumina (beta prime-prime alumina in which when prepared as an electrolyte is complexed with a mobile ion selected from the group consisting of Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Ag⁺, H⁺, Pb²⁺, Sr²⁺ or Ba²⁺). A second electrolyte partially engages the upper surfaces of the electrodes and engages the first solid electrolyte in at least one point. The second electrolyte is selected from the group of compounds consisting of Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Ag⁺, H⁺, Pb²⁺, Sr²⁺ or Ba²⁺ ions or combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A gas sensor comprising:

a substrate;

a pair of interdigitated metal electrodes selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Au, Ir, Ag, Ru, Rh, In, and Os;

said electrodes each include an upper surface;

a first solid electrolyte resides between said interdigitated electrodes and partially engages said upper surfaces of said electrodes;

said first solid electrolyte selected from the group consisting of NASICON, LISICON, KSICON, and β

″

-Alumina and, a second electrolyte partially engaging said upper surfaces of said electrodes and engaging said first solid electrolyte in at least one point, said second electrolyte comprising an element selected from the group consisting of Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Ag⁺, H⁺, Pb²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ ions or combinations thereof.

2. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of Al₂O₃ or fused SiO₂ or other insulator.

3. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are porous.

4. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are non-porous.

5. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are metal alloyed with another metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Au, Ir, Ag, Ru, Rh, In, and Os.

6. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising another layer and wherein said another electrolytic layer is one of the following SnO₂, TiO₂, In₂O₃, CuO, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, ITO or other metal oxide or any mixtures of the preceding compounds.

7. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes can be deposited by sputter or evaporation, the solid electrolyte can be deposited by sputter or evaporation, and the auxiliary electrolyte(s) can be deposited by using a shadow mask.

8. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a layer of metal oxide selected from the group consisting SnO₂, TiO₂, In₂O₃, CuO, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, ITO or other metal oxide and their mixtures residing above and in engagement with said second electrolyte.

9. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein an electric potential is applied between said electrodes and current output is measured to determine the gas concentration.

10. An electrochemical cell comprising:

an interdigitated electrode selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Au, Ir, Ag, Ru, Rh, In, Os, Cr, and Ti;

each of said interdigitated electrodes include an upper surface and a lower surface;

a substrate layer;

said lower surface of said interdigitated electrodes deposited onto said substrate layer and secured thereto; and

, a first solid electrolyte residing between and in engagement with said interdigitated electrodes and engaging said upper surfaces of said interdigitated electrodes;

said first solid electrolyte selected from NASICON, LISICON, and β

″

-Alumina; and

a layer of metal carbonate(s) as an auxiliary electrolyte engaging said upper surfaces of said electrodes and said first solid electrolyte;

said metal carbonate comprising an element selected from the group consisting of the following ions Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Ag⁺, H⁺, Pb²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, and any combinations thereof.

12. A gas sensor as claimed in claim 10 further comprising an extra layer of metal oxide selected from the group consisting of SnO₂, TiO₂, In₂O₃, CuO, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, ITO or other metal oxide residing above and in engagement with said second electrolyte.

11. An electrochemical cell as claimed in 10 wherein an electric potential is applied between the working and reference electrodes and current output is measured to determine the gas concentration.

13. A gas sensor comprising:

a substrate layer;

a pair of interdigitated metal electrodes, said electrodes include upper surfaces, said electrodes, selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Au, Ir, Ag, Ru, Rh, In, Os, and their alloy;

a first layer of solid electrolyte staying in between electrode fingers and partially on said upper surfaces of said electrodes, said first layer selected from NASICON, LISICON, KSICON and β

″

-Alumina;

a second layer of metal carbonate(s) auxiliary as an electrolyte engaging said upper surfaces of said electrodes and said first solid electrolyte;

said metal carbonates comprising an element selected from the group consisting of the following ions Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Ag⁺, H⁺, Pb²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, and any combination thereof; and

an extra layer of metal oxide selected from the group consisting of SnO₂, TiO₂, In₂O₃, CuO, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, ITO or other metal oxide and their mixtures residing above and in engagement with said second electrolyte.