Electrochemical sensor

An electrochemical sensor produced according to the steps of;

• providing a sensor housing and an electrode stack that is disposed within the sensor housing, said electrode stack including at least two electrodes and an electrolyte-absorbent separator that is disposed between said at least two electrodes, said sensor housing having surfaces that define a reservoir chamber for containing an electrolyte;
• preparing a colloid of a wicking material in a liquid, said wicking material having an affinity for the electrolyte contained in the reservoir chamber, said wicking material being chemically stable in the presence of the electrolyte;
• placing the colloid in the reservoir;
• and
• drying the colloid to cause the wicking material component of the colloid to adhere to the surfaces of the reservoir chamber and form a coating of wicking material thereon, said coating of wicking material adhering to the surfaces of the reservoir chamber and uniformly coating the walls of the chamber, the electrolyte in the reservoir chamber spreading over the surface of the coated walls of the reservoir chamber.

A new gas analysis device comprising;

• a sensor produced according to the steps of;
• providing a sensor housing and an electrode stack that is disposed within the sensor housing, said electrode stack including at least two electrodes and an electrolyte-absorbent separator that is disposed between said at least two electrodes, said sensor housing having surfaces that define a reservoir chamber for containing an electrolyte;
• preparing a colloid of a wicking material in a liquid, said wicking material having an affinity for the electrolyte and being chemically stable in the presence of the electrolyte;
• placing the colloid in the reservoir;
• and
• drying the colloid in the reservoir to cause the wicking material component of the colloid to adhere to the surfaces of the reservoir chamber and form a coating of wicking material thereon, said wicking material forming a uniform coating that adheres to the surfaces of the reservoir chamber, such that electrolyte in the reservoir chamber spreads throughout the coating of wicking material;
• and
• a potentiostat circuit that is connected to the electrodes of the sensor, said potentiostat circuit providing a biasing voltage that is sufficient to generate a current at one of the electrodes when a gas to be determined is present.

An electrochemical sensor comprising:

• a housing that defines an opening for admitting gas for analysis:
• an electrode stack that is disposed within the housing, said electrode stack including at least two electrodes with an electrolyte-absorbent separator located between the two electrodes;
• a reservoir having walls that define a chamber, said chamber containing a supply of electrolyte;
• a wicking material that adheres to the walls of the chamber, said wicking material being in the form of a coating, said wicking material uniformly coating the walls of the chamber and having an affinity for said electrolyte such that said coating of wicking material spreads said electrolyte over the surface of the coated area of the internal walls of the reservoir;
• and
• a wick that is in contact with said electrode stack and with said coating of wicking material to wet the separator in the electrode stack with electrolyte from the reservoir.

An electrochemical sensor comprising:

• a housing that defines an opening for admitting gas for analysis:
• an electrode stack that is disposed within the housing, said electrode stack including at least two electrodes with an electrolyte-absorbent separator located between the two electrodes;
• a reservoir having walls that define a chamber, said chamber containing a supply of electrolyte;
• and
• a wicking material that adheres to the walls of the chamber, said wicking material being in the form of a coating that provides a connection between electrolyte in the reservoir and electrolyte in the electrode stack, said wicking material uniformly coating the walls of the chamber and having an affinity for said electrolyte such that said coating of wicking material spreads said electrolyte over the surface of the coated area of the internal walls of the reservoir chamber and to said electrode stack.