Abstract: A low cost room temperature electrochemical gas sensor for sensing CO and other toxic analyte gases has a solid protonic conductive membrane with a low bulk ionic resistance. A sensing electrode and a count counter electrode, which are separated by the membrane, can be made of mixed protonic-electronic conductors. Embodiments of the inventive sensor also include an electrochemical analyte gas pump to transport the analyte gas away from the counter electrode side of the sensor. Analyte gas pumps for the inventive sensor include dual pumping electrodes situated on opposite sides of the membrane, and include a means for applying a DC power across the membrane to the sensing and counter electrodes. Another embodiment of the inventive sensor has first and second solid protonic conductive membranes, one of which has a sensing electrode and a counter electrode separated by the first membrane, and the other of which has dual pumping electrodes situated on opposite sides of the second membrane.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 31, 1995
Date of Patent:
November 12, 1996
Assignee:
Atwood Systems and Controls
Inventors:
Yousheng Shen, Franco Consadori, D. George Field