US 2013/0153442 A1 · REGENERATIVE GAS SENSOR

Abstract

A gas sensor includes a housing having disposed therein a membrane electrode assembly comprising a sensing electrode, a counter electrode, and a polymer membrane disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode. The polymer membrane comprises an ionic liquid retained therein. The sensor also includes a catalyst support that can be stable in a range of potentials to allow for detection mode and catalyst regeneration mode to be operative. The sensor further includes a circuitry and algorithm to implement the catalyst regeneration mechanism electrochemically. The sensor further includes a chamber for reference gas to which the counter electrode is exposed, and a chamber for test gas to which a gas to be tested is exposed. The sensor also includes a pathway for test gas to enter the chamber and a measured electrical circuit connecting the sensing electrode and the counter electrode.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gas sensor comprising:

a housing;
a membrane electrode assembly disposed in the housing, the membrane electrode assembly comprising a sensing electrode comprising a catalyst on a conductive support, a counter electrode comprising a catalyst on a conductive support, and a polymer membrane disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode, wherein said polymer membrane includes an ionic liquid retained therein;
said housing including a reference gas chamber to which the counter electrode is exposed, and a test gas chamber to which the sensing electrode is disposed;
a pathway for test gas to enter the test gas chamber;
a measurement electrical circuit connecting the sensing electrode and the counter electrode;
an electrical circuit and algorithm for regenerating the catalyst when it is partially or completely deactivated by contaminants.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Regenerative gas sensor

Life of this patent

Regenerative gas sensor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20