Selective real-time gas sensing

A selective, real-time gas sensing method, comprising:

• supplying an atmospheric gas sample to an interface between a working electrode and an ionic liquid electrolyte, wherein the working electrode is to sense a specific gas molecule, and wherein the ionic liquid electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of 1-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-propyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-pentyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-hexyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-heptyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-octyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-nonyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-decyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and a combination thereof;
• based on at least one unique electrochemical reaction of the specific gas molecule to be sensed, implementing a driving force to initiate a series of reactions involving the specific gas molecule;
• and
• in response to the implementation of the driving force, monitoring for a signal indicative of the specific gas molecule;
• wherein the atmospheric gas sample is supplied continuously for at least 30 seconds and wherein the implementing of the driving force and the monitoring for the signal indicative of the specific gas molecule are performed continuously as the atmospheric gas sample is supplied.