Self-humidifying potentiostated, three-electrode hydrated solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) gas sensor
US4171253A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 1977 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/4045
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A compact electrochemical gas sensing cell is described for detecting gases which are either immediately dangerous to health such as carbon monoxide, NO.sub.2, etc., or represent a social or public welfare risk. The latter area, for example, may require determining alcohol breath content of a driver of a motor vehicle. The cell uses a hydrated, solid polymer electrolyte which has sensing and reference electrodes positioned on one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a counter electrode positioned on the other side. One side of the hydrated SPE membrane is flooded with distilled water so that incoming gases are brought to essentially 100% relative humidity by rapid vapor phase water transport across the membrane, thereby eliminating the need for external humidification in the form of bubblers and the like. An ionically conductive hydrated SPE bridge is formed on one side of the membrane and is located spatially to provide a low resistance path between the reference and sensing electrodes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.