# US 2019/0170679 A1 · Electrochemical Method to Determine the Sensitivity of a Gas Sensor by Pulse Sequences > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170679 A1 - Document ID: US20190170679A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/314,914 - Filed: 2017-07-11 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-12 - Assignees: MSA Europe GmbH - Applicants: MSA Europe GmbH - Inventors: Sebastian Ross - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170679A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/4045: {for gases other than oxygen} - G01N 27/301: {Reference electrodes} - G01N 27/404: Cells with anode, cathode and cell electrolyte on the same side of a permeable membrane which separates them from the sample fluid {, e.g. Clark-type oxygen sensors} - G01N 33/0006: {Calibrating gas analysers} - G01N 33/004: {CO or CO2} - G01N 33/007: {Arrangements to check the analyser (calibrating gas analysers G01N33/0006)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An electrochemical method for determining the sensitivity of at least one gas sensor. The method includes applying at least two electrical pulses to at least two parts of at least two electrodes of the gas sensor, recording the change of the current pattern induced in the at least two electrodes by the at least two pulses over time, calculating at least one value for the sensor sensitivity by applying an algorithm to the current pattern induced by the at least two pulses, and comparing the calculated sensitivity value to known gas sensitivity calibration data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrochemical method for determining the sensitivity of at least one gas sensor comprising: applying at least two electrical pulses to at least two parts of at least two electrodes of a gas sensor; recording a change of a current pattern induced in the at least two electrodes by the at least two pulses over time; calculating at least one value for the sensor sensitivity by applying an algorithm to the current pattern induced by the at least two pulses; and comparing the calculated sensitivity value to known gas sensitivity calibration data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two pulses are voltage pulses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two pulses are varied by at least one parameter or: pulse height (mV), pulse length (sec), and type of pulse. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the parameters are the same or different for each of the at least two pulses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrical pulses are applied in opposite directions to the gas sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a sequence of more than two electrical pulses is applied to the at least one gas sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a sequence of four or more electrical pulses is applied to the at least one gas sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the current pattern induced by the at least two pulses are described by at least 2 parameters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the current pattern induced by the at least two pulses are described by at least 8 parameters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the current pattern induced by the at least two pulses is described by one of the following parameters: a maximal or minimal peak (corresponding to pulse height) of a first pulse P1; a resting peak of a first pulse P1 (RestPeak 1); an area under curve of the first pulse (AUC1); a maximal or minimal peak (corresponding to pulse height) of a second pulse P2; a resting peak of the second pulse P2 (RestPeak 2); and an area under curve of the second pulse (AUC2). ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the algorithm for calculating the at least one value for the sensor sensitivity is generated based on the at least 2 parameters of the current pattern induced by the at least two pulses. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas sensitivity calibration data are previously obtained from the same gas sensor type. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas sensor comprises an electrolyte selected from a group comprising: at least one ionic liquid with at least one additive portion; an aqueous salt solution; a mineral acid; a base; and an organic salt solution. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein: the aqueous salt solution is an aqueous LiCl solution; the mineral acid is H2SO4 or H3PO4; the base is KOH; or the organic salt solution comprises LiPF6 in dimethylcarbonate glycol and/or ethylenecarbonate glycol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one additive portion comprises at least one organic additive, at least one organometallic additive, or at least one inorganic additive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises at least two electrodes in electrical contact with the ionic liquid, the electrodes being separated from one another by a separator or by space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise independently, the same or different: a metal selected from the group of Cu, Ni, Ti, Pt, Ir, Au, Pd, Ag, Ru, Rh; an oxide Cu, Ni, Ti, Pt, Ir, Au, Pd, Ag, Ru, or Rh and mixtures thereof or carbon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the carbon comprises graphite. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas sensor is adapted for the detection of gases selected from the group of acid gases, basic gases, neutral gases, oxidizing gases, reducing gases, halogen gases, halogen vapors, and hydride gases. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas sensor is adapted for the detection of gases selected from the group of F2, Cl2, Br2, I2, O2, O3, ClO2, NH3, SO2, H2S, CO, CO2, NO, NO2, H2, HCl, HBr, HF, HCN, PH3, AsH3, B2H6, GeH4, and SiH4. ### Claim at position 21 -35. (canceled)