Abstract: A NOx gas sensor for placing in a gas stream of a heat engine exhaust device. The sensor includes a sensing element having a solid electrolyte with a first surface on which there extend a work electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter-electrode. The work electrode being made of a material having electrocatalytic and catalytic activity that are less than the electrocatalytic and catalytic activity of the materials of the reference electrode and of the counter-electrode, and the counter-electrode and the sensor include a catalytic filter surrounding the sensing element and bias means for negatively polarizing the work electrode. A detector device comprising a plurality of sensors of this type. A corresponding catalytic exhaust device.

Abstract: An electron filtering layer placed on a photocathode of a UV light detector allows to selectively filter out electrons generated from a photoconversion of long wavelengths. The filter may be tuned by selecting the material and the thickness of the electron filtering layer. By means of the filtering layer, background noise due to visible parts of the spectrum may be efficiently suppressed. Applications of the invention include a solar-blind flame and/or smoke detector.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor for detecting trace or impurity gases, the method comprising evaporating tin and/or tin oxides under a partial pressure of oxygen in order to condense vapor on an electrically insulating substrate to obtain a porous layer deposit therein. The metal or the metal oxides is/are evaporated under a flow of a mixture of gases containing both oxygen and an inert gas at a total pressure of not less than 100 pascals and with the partial pressure of the oxygen in the mixture being not more than 130 pascals.