Solid state oxygen sensor

US5543025A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Fernando Garzon · Albuquerque, US
• Brandon Chung · Dublin, US
• Ian D. Raistrick · Los Alamos, US
• Eric L. Brosha · Los Alamos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 30, 1995
• Grant date: Aug 6, 1996
• Expiry date: Jan 30, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N27/4071
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Solid state oxygen sensors are provided with a yttria-doped zirconia as an electrolyte and use the electrochemical oxygen pumping of the zirconia electrolyte. A linear relationship between oxygen concentration and the voltage arising at a current plateau occurs when oxygen accessing the electrolyte is limited by a diffusion barrier. A diffusion barrier is formed herein with a mixed electronic and oxygen ion-conducting membrane of lanthanum-containing perovskite or zirconia-containing fluorite. A heater may be used to maintain an adequate oxygen diffusion coefficient in the mixed conducting layer.