This solid-state sensor technology selectively detects and measures combustion gases such as CO and NOx. These small (<1 cm2), simple potentiometric (voltage output) sensors are highly sensitive to such gases and can be readily combined on a single chip to provide a multifunctional sensor
Application:
> Detection of atmospheric pollutants such as NOx, CO, and unburned hydrocarbons, for use in the Transportation, Industrial, and Energy sectors
> Detection of ambient gas and breath analysis for the health and biomedical fields
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Sensor demonstrates sensitivity down to 1 ppm as
shown above for CO measurement in exhaust. |
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Selectivity: sensor allows ppm measurements in thepresence of competing gas mixtures, as shown above for NO measurement in exhaust gas with varying % level O2 concentration. |
Advantages:
> Highly sensitive to specific gases, providing accurate, in-depth diagnostics of pollutants
> Designed so that the sensing and reference electrode can be in the same gas stream, significantly reducing fabrication costs
> When used in a feed-back loop, the sensor leads to improved efficiency of the combustion process (and improved fuel economy in automobiles)
> Designed with no moving parts or sensitive optics, enabling use in harsh environments such as vehicle exhaust and industrial processes
> Produces a continuous signal requiring little or no amplification
> Can be produced with small geometries using standard manufacturing techniques, requiring minimal start-up and production costs
The Technology:
Our solid-sate sensor has the sensitivity to detect ppm levels of CO and NOx. For solid-state sensors, selectivity of CO and NOx vs. O2 is the most difficult challenge. Our unique sensor can detect ppm levels of NO in % levels of O2. In addition, because of the high selectivity of the sensor, O2 concentrations can vary over a wide range with negligible effect on the sensor’s response to CO and NO concentration. The sensor also provides rapid (~1 s) reversible response to fluctuations in gas concentration. Our novel sensor can be used to improve combustion control, as well as meet emissions monitoring regulations in¬cluding the impending EPA on-board diagnostics (OBD) regulations
The Inventor:
Eric D. Wachsman is a Professor in the University of Florida Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His research on electronicallyand chemically functional ceramics focuses on solid ion-conducting materials andelectrocatalysts. Dr. Wachsman worked previously on the catalytic properties of lanthanide perovskites for O2/NOx reduction, methane activation and combustion as a Senior Scientist at SRI International, and on the fabrication of novel microelectronic devices as a member of the Research Staff at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center and a Process Engineer at Intel.
Dr. Wachsman received his Ph.D. in Materials Science from Stanford University.
His dissertation research was on the solid state and heterogeneous catalytic properties of solid-oxide electrolytes. He received his M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from U.C. Berkeley.
Dr. Wachsman is an Associate Editor of the Journal of The American Ceramic Society and an Editor of Ionics. He is Vice Chair of the High Temperature Materials Division of the Electrochemical Society and Chair of the Florida Section of the American Ceramic Society. He is also a member of the American Chemical Society and the International Society for Solid State Ionics. He has more than 50 publications and 8 patents on ionic and electronic transport in ceramics, their catalytic properties, and device performance.
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