Gas Sensor Catalyst Support Material for Humidity Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas detection devices used in humid environments, such as kitchens or cooking rooms, face reduced methane sensitivity due to moisture absorption by alumina supports in catalyst portions, leading to altered catalyst function and sensitivity fluctuations over time.
Innovation Solution
Employing a catalyst portion with a transition metal oxide, such as zirconium oxide or titanium oxide, as the support instead of alumina, and using platinum as the primary catalyst metal, with optimized concentrations to maintain high sensitivity and moisture resistance, while implementing pulse heating and controlled temperature settings to minimize water interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alumina support is used in the catalyst portion, then the catalyst function is enhanced, but moisture absorption occurs in humid environments leading to sensitivity fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the catalyst support from alumina to transition metal oxide (such as zirconium oxide or titanium oxide). This material substitution fundamentally alters the chemical and physical properties of the support, specifically its interaction with moisture. Transition metal oxides exhibit different surface chemistry and hydrophobicity compared to alumina, thereby suppressing moisture absorption while maintaining catalytic activity for methane detection.
2Use of energy by moving object
If pulse heating is implemented to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the gas sensor requires small heat capacity and high heating response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic pulse heating instead of continuous heating. The heater portion is energized in repeated short pulses during a gas detection cycle, with heating suspension steps between pulses. This periodic action significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining detection capability. The gas sensor is designed with small heat capacity to enable rapid heating response to these pulses, allowing the system to achieve power-saving operation without sacrificing detection performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses sensitivity fluctuations in humid environments, maintaining high gas detection sensitivity and reducing power consumption, enabling reliable battery-powered methane detection with improved moisture resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a heater portion, and a catalyst portion provided to cover at least a part of the gas detection portion, in which the heater portion heats the gas detection portion and the catalyst portion
Implementation Method 2
miscellaneous gas which becomes an interfering gas at the time of detection is burned and removed at the catalyst portion
Implementation Method 3
the catalyst portion is also called an oxidation catalyst layer because of such functions
Implementation Method 4
a gas detection portion whose characteristics change due to contact with a detection target gas
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a gas detection device used in a humid environment such as a kitchen or a cooking room, which is excellent in moisture resistance and also excellent in sensitivity. In a gas detection device which includes a thin film type gas sensor including a heater portion, a gas detection portion, and a catalyst portion on a substrate, energizes the heater portion to heat the gas detection portion and the catalyst portion, and detects the detection target gas, the gas sensor configured by supporting a catalyst metal containing platinum as a main component on a support containing a transition metal oxide as a main component is adopted.