US 11,378,547 B1 · Electrochemical detection of gas phase chemicals

Abstract

We provide an electrochemical sensor in which working microelectrodes are arranged in an array and interconnected in parallel. The working electrodes are arranged so that in use, they are electrochemically coupled to a counter electrode structure through an electrolyte. The sensor also includes a microporous body arranged so that in use, it is situated at a boundary between a gaseous environment and the electrolyte. In another aspect, we provide a method of sensing in which a sample of gas is admitted to a liquid electrolyte maintained by pores of a porous substrate. A voltage is applied to the liquid electrolyte, and an electrical response to the applied voltage is observed, thereby to detect electrochemical evidence of an analyte within the liquid electrolyte.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electrochemical sensor, comprising:

a plurality of working nanoelectrodes arranged in an array and interconnected in parallel;
a counter electrode structure;
and
a nanoporous body, wherein:
the counter electrode structure or a further electrode structure is configured to serve as a reference electrode;
at least a portion of the nanoporous body is configured to be exposed to a gaseous environment;
at least a portion of the nanoporous body is configured to contain an electrolyte, a boundary between the gaseous environment and the electrolyte being situated within or adjacent to the nanoporous body;
the working nanoelectrodes are configured to be electrochemically coupled to the counter electrode structure through the electrolyte;
and
the nanoporous body is a layer of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) perforated with an array of mutually parallel nanopores extending from a front face to a back face thereof.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrochemical detection of gas phase chemicals

Life of this patent

Electrochemical detection of gas phase chemicals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20