SENSOR ELEMENT, DEW CONDENSATION SENSOR, HUMIDITY SENSOR, METHOD FOR DETECTING DEW CONDENSATION, AND DEW-POINT MEASUREMENT DEVICE
First Claim
1. A sensor element, comprising:
- a metal fine-particle dispersed composite; and
a detection unit detecting variation in an optical signal or an electrical signal generated by interaction between a detected substance and the metal fine-particle dispersed composite,wherein the metal fine-particle dispersed composite comprises a matrix layer comprising a solid framework and voids formed by the solid framework, and metal fine-particles immobilized to the solid framework, and has constitutions a) to d);
a) the solid framework containing an aluminum oxyhydroxide or an alumina hydrate and forming a three-dimensional network structure;
b) the metal fine-particles having a mean particle diameter in a range of 3 to 100 nm, with a proportion of 60% or more having particle diameters in a range of 1 to 100 nm;
c) the metal fine-particles being formed in the matrix layer by heat-reducing a metal ion and being present in a manner that the metal fine-particles are not in contact with one another and neighboring metal fine-particles are apart from each other by a distance equal to or larger than the particle diameter of a larger one of the neighboring metal fine-particles; and
d) the metal fine-particles being dispersed three-dimensionally in the matrix layer, wherein each metal fine-particle has a portion exposed in the voids of the matrix layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dew condensation sensor is described, including a nano-composite for generating local surface plasmon resonance, a light reflecting member disposed on one side of the nano-composite, a protection layer laminated on the light reflecting member, a light source/light receiver disposed facing the nano-composite, a spectroscope (or photo-detector) for detecting the light reflected by the light source/light receiver, a controller connected to the light source/light receiver and the spectroscope (or photo-detector) and used for overall control thereof, and a display unit connected to the controller. The dew condensation sensor detects occurrence of dew condensation based on the variation in the absorption spectrum, the absorption intensity or the reflected-light intensity of the local surface plasmon resonance of the nano-composite.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensor element, comprising:
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a metal fine-particle dispersed composite; and a detection unit detecting variation in an optical signal or an electrical signal generated by interaction between a detected substance and the metal fine-particle dispersed composite, wherein the metal fine-particle dispersed composite comprises a matrix layer comprising a solid framework and voids formed by the solid framework, and metal fine-particles immobilized to the solid framework, and has constitutions a) to d); a) the solid framework containing an aluminum oxyhydroxide or an alumina hydrate and forming a three-dimensional network structure; b) the metal fine-particles having a mean particle diameter in a range of 3 to 100 nm, with a proportion of 60% or more having particle diameters in a range of 1 to 100 nm; c) the metal fine-particles being formed in the matrix layer by heat-reducing a metal ion and being present in a manner that the metal fine-particles are not in contact with one another and neighboring metal fine-particles are apart from each other by a distance equal to or larger than the particle diameter of a larger one of the neighboring metal fine-particles; and d) the metal fine-particles being dispersed three-dimensionally in the matrix layer, wherein each metal fine-particle has a portion exposed in the voids of the matrix layer. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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2. (canceled)
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7. A dew condensation sensor, comprising:
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a metal fine-particle dispersed composite; a light reflecting member disposed on one side of the metal fine-particle dispersed composite; a light source irradiating the metal fine-particle dispersed composite with light; a light receiver receiving light reflected by a surface of the metal fine-particle dispersed composite and the light reflecting member; and a spectroscopic device measuring an absorption spectrum of the reflected light or a photo-detector measuring an intensity of the reflected light, wherein the metal fine-particle dispersed composite is characterized by comprising a matrix layer comprising a solid framework and voids formed by the solid framework, and metal fine-particles immobilized to the solid framework, and has constitutions a) to d); a) the solid framework containing an aluminum oxyhydroxide or an alumina hydrate and forming a three-dimensional network structure; b) the metal fine-particles having a mean particle diameter in a range of 3 to 100 nm, with a proportion of 60% or more having particle diameters in a range of 1 to 100 nm; c) the metal fine-particles being formed in the matrix layer by heat-reducing a metal ion and being present in a manner that the metal fine-particles are not in contact with one another and neighboring metal fine-particles are apart from each other by a distance equal to or larger than the particle diameter of a larger one of the neighboring metal fine-particles; and d) the metal fine-particles being dispersed three-dimensionally in the matrix layer, wherein each metal fine-particle has a portion exposed in the voids of the matrix layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A sensor element, comprising:
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a light source emitting light; a light receiver receiving light; and a metal fine-particle dispersed composite interposed in an optical path between the light source and the light receiver, wherein the metal fine-particle dispersed composite comprises a matrix layer comprising a solid framework and voids formed by the solid framework, and metal fine-particles immobilized to the solid framework, and has constitutions a) to d); a) the solid framework containing an aluminum oxyhydroxide or an alumina hydrate and forming a three-dimensional network structure; b) the metal fine-particles having a mean particle diameter in a range of 3 to 100 nm, with a proportion of 60% or more having particle diameters in a range of 1 to 100 nm; c) the metal fine-particles being formed in the matrix layer by heat-reducing a metal ion and being present in a manner that the metal fine-particles are not in contact with one another and neighboring metal fine-particles are apart from each other by a distance equal to or larger than the particle diameter of a larger one of the neighboring metal fine-particles; and d) the metal fine-particles being dispersed three-dimensionally in the matrix layer, wherein each metal fine-particle has a portion exposed in the voids of the matrix layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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15. A sensor element, comprising:
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a light source emitting light; a light receiver receiving light; a light transmitting member forming an optical path between the light source and the light receiver; and a metal fine-particle dispersed composite disposed in proximity to the light transmitting member, wherein the metal fine-particle dispersed composite comprises a matrix layer comprising a solid framework and voids formed by the solid framework, and metal fine-particles immobilized to the solid framework, and has constitutions a) to d); a) the solid framework containing an aluminum oxyhydroxide or an alumina hydrate and forming a three-dimensional network structure; b) the metal fine-particles having a mean particle diameter in a range of 3 to 100 nm, with a proportion of 60% or more having particle diameters in a range of 1 to 100 nm; c) the metal fine-particles being formed in the matrix layer by heat-reducing a metal ion and being present in a manner that the metal fine-particles are not in contact with one another and neighboring metal fine-particles are apart from each other by a distance equal to or larger than the particle diameter of a larger one of the neighboring metal fine-particles; and d) the metal fine-particles being dispersed three-dimensionally in the matrix layer, wherein each metal fine-particle has a portion exposed in the voids of the matrix layer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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18. A field effect transistor sensor element, comprising:
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a substrate; a source region and a drain region having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the substrate; a gate laminated body formed on the substrate between the source region and the drain region; and a metal fine-particle dispersed composite disposed on the gate laminated body, wherein the metal fine-particle dispersed composite comprises a matrix layer comprising a solid framework and voids formed by the solid framework, and metal fine-particles immobilized to the solid framework, and has constitutions a) to d); a) the solid framework containing an aluminum oxyhydroxide or an alumina hydrate and forming a three-dimensional network structure; b) the metal fine-particles having a mean particle diameter in a range of 3 to 100 nm, with a proportion of 60% or more having particle diameters in a range of 1 to 100 nm; c) the metal fine-particles being formed in the matrix layer by heat-reducing a metal ion and being present in a manner that the metal fine-particles are not in contact with one another and neighboring metal fine-particles are apart from each other by a distance equal to or larger than the particle diameter of a larger one of the neighboring metal fine-particles; and d) the metal fine-particles being dispersed three-dimensionally in the matrix layer, wherein each metal fine-particle has a portion exposed in the voids of the matrix layer.
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Specification