Gas sensing unit
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorsJoseph R. Stetter, Raymond B. Cromer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for sensing reducible gases in the environment. The invention herein utilizes electrochemical sensing procedures incorporating gold as the sensing electrode in combination with a material selected from the group of iridium and ruthenium as the counterelectrode. This combination avoids the usual polarization at the anode in prior arrangements of this kind and the gradual degradation in the degree of sensing specificity for sensing, for example, NO.sub.2 and Cl.sub.2. In those instances wherein a three electrode system is used, the third or reference electrode may be comprised of platinum, iridium or ruthenium.
Claims9
An electrochemical sensor for the detection of electrochemically reducible gases comprising
- (a) a chamber containing an electrolyte;
- (b) a sensing electrode in contact with said electrolyte in said chamber;
- (c) a counterelectrode in contact with said electrolyte in said chamber;
- (d) said sensing electrode is comprised of gold bonded to a porous hydrophobic membrane;
- (e) said counterelectrode is a member selected from the group consisting of iridium and ruthenium;
- and
- (f) said counterelectrode is bonded to a porous hydrophobic membrane.
An electrochemical sensor for detecting electrochemically reducible gases comprising
- (a) a chamber containing an electrolyte;
- (b) a sensing electrode in contact with said electrolyte in said chamber and comprised essentially of gold;
- (c) a counterelectrode in contact with said electrolyte in said chamber and comprised essentially of iridium;
- (d) electrical connection means for measuring the current flowing between said sensing electrode and said counterelectrode;
- and
- (e) means in said electrical connection means for indicating said measured current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.