Planar micro-discharge gas detector

A gas discharge detector that identifies properties of a gas sample in conjunction with a gas chromatography system, the detector comprising:

• a) a substantially uniform, uninterrupted insulative substrate with a first surface;
• b) a first electrode on said first surface of said substrate;
• c) a second electrode on said first surface of said substrate and disposed across said first surface from said first electrode to define a gap of 1 to 500 microns between said first and second electrodes;
• d) an insulative coating over a surface of said electrodes;
• e) the gas discharge detector adapted to receive sufficient voltage between said electrodes in the presence of a gas that induces a light emitting gas discharge in a discharge region around the gap;
• f) means for collecting light disposed sufficiently proximate the discharge region to collect light from the gas discharge;
• and
• g) spectral analysis equipment that identifies properties of the gas emitted from the gas chromatography system by analyzing the light from the discharge region.

A gas discharge detector that analyzes a gas comprising:

• a) a substantially uninterrupted insulative substrate with a first surface;
• b) a first electrode on said first surface of said substrate;
• c) a second electrode positioned on said first surface such that said first and second electrodes define a gap between said electrodes and across said first surface;
• d) an insulative coating over a surface of said electrodes;
• d) wherein the gas discharge detector is adapted to receive sufficient voltage between said electrodes on said first surface in the presence of a gas that causes light to be emitted in a discharge region around the gap;
• and
• e) spectral analysis equipment that identifies properties of the gas by analyzing said light collected from the discharge region.

A gas discharge detector that identifies properties of a gas, the detector being adapted to receive sufficient voltage between electrodes that causes light emitting gas discharge in a discharge region between the electrodes, the gas discharge detector comprising:

• a) an insulative substrate with a first surface and a second surface;
• b) a first electrode on said first surface of said substrate;
• c) a second electrode positioned on said first surface across from said first electrode, wherein said substrate defines a hole between said electrodes, the hole extending through said substrate from said first surface to said second surface, wherein the light from the gas discharge is extracted from the hole and transmitted to
• d) a light emission spectrometer that identifies the gas in the gas discharge.

A gas discharge detector that analyzes a gas, comprising:

• a) a substantially uninterrupted insulative substrate with a first surface;
• b) a first electrode on said first surface of said substrate;
• c) an insulating layer on a portion of said first electrode and a portion of said substrate;
• c) a second electrode positioned on said insulating layer such that said first and second electrodes extend over a common section of said substrate and are separated by said insulating layer;
• d) wherein the gas discharge detector is adapted to receive sufficient voltage between said electrodes in the presence of a gas that causes light to be emitted in a discharge region around the electrodes;
• and
• e) spectral analysis equipment that identifies properties of the gas by analyzing said light collected from the discharge region.