Electrolytes for inhibiting silver deposition on oxygen sensor cathodes and methods of use of same
US5632882A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/404
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A Clark-type gas detection apparatus includes a sensor electrode and a reference electrode exposed to an aqueous electrolyte solution which is isolated from a liquid medium surrounding the apparatus by a semi-permeable membrane. A preferred reference electrode for use in Clark-type apparatus comprises silver/silver chloride. Through the addition of an effective amount of a sulphate-based co-electrolyte to an electrolyte solution having a relatively low chloride ion content, it is possible to obtain an electrolyte solution having an ionic conductivity comparable to that of chloride-based electrolyte solutions currently used in Clark-type sensors while retaining sufficient chloride ion to drive the oxidation reaction near the reference electrode. The relatively low chloride ion content of the electrolyte solution of the present invention tends to suppress the dissolution of silver chloride from the reference electrode, and, consequently, the deposition of silver on the indicating electrode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.