Particulate matter detection element

A particulate matter detection element capable of detecting particulate matter contained in a target detection gas, comprising:

• an insulation substrate;
• a detection part comprised of a pair of detection electrodes formed a predetermined distance apart on a surface of the insulation substrate;
• and
• a shielding layer made of heat insulating material which covers a predetermined area on the detection part so that an area having a uniform electric field intensity generated when a voltage is supplied between the detection electrodes is exposed to the target detection gas and an area other than the area having the uniform electric field intensity is shielded from the target detection gas;
• wherein the area other than the area having the uniform electric field intensity formed on the detection part does not include an area in which equipotential lines of the electric field generated when the voltage is supplied between the detection electrodes are approximately parallel to a reference line defined along a longitudinal part of each of the detection electrodes.