Gas Sensor Electrode Open Pores for Oxygen Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas sensor elements face challenges in achieving an early activated state due to remaining reducing gas on the sensor electrode, which hinders the stabilization of sensor current.
Innovation Solution
A gas sensor element with a solid electrolyte body, a pump cell, and a sensor cell, where the sensor electrode has open pores reaching noble metal regions, and a pump-cell controller applies a removing voltage to generate reducing gas, facilitating early diffusion and removal of oxygen from the sensor electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a removing voltage is applied to generate reducing gas for removing oxygen from the sensor electrode, then oxygen removal is improved, but reducing gas remains on the sensor electrode surface extending activation time
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor electrode incorporates open pores that extend from the electrode surface into the noble metal regions. These pores facilitate rapid diffusion and removal of reducing gas from the electrode interior, preventing accumulation that would otherwise extend activation time, while maintaining effective oxygen removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The open pores create a three-dimensional diffusion pathway from the two-dimensional electrode surface into the bulk noble metal regions. This dimensional extension allows reducing gas to escape from deeper regions of the electrode, accelerating overall activation without compromising oxygen removal efficiency
2Measurement precision
If the sensor electrode surface is cleaned of oxygen for accurate detection, then measurement precision is improved, but reducing gas accumulation occurs on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The open pore structure provides escape routes for reducing gas that would otherwise accumulate on the electrode surface. By enabling three-dimensional diffusion, the pores prevent reducing gas buildup while maintaining a clean reactive surface for accurate gas concentration measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The open pores extract reducing gas from the electrode interior and transport it to the external environment. This continuous removal prevents harmful accumulation that would interfere with sensor current stability and measurement precision
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
This configuration enables the gas sensor element to transition to an activated state more efficiently by promoting the early removal of reducing gas, thereby stabilizing the sensor current and improving detection accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the pump-cell controller decomposing a substance which is present in the measurement gas chamber by applying a removing voltage to the pump cell so that a reducing gas is generated
Implementation Method 2
a solid electrolyte body having oxygen ion conductivity and detects a concentration of a specific gas in a measured gas based on an amount of oxygen ions which are conducted in the solid electrolyte body
Implementation Method 3
the sensor electrode having open pores which extend from an electrode surface of the sensor electrode and reach at least one of the plurality of noble metal regions
Data Source
AI summary
A gas sensor element of the present disclosure includes a measurement gas chamber, a pump cell, a sensor cell including a sensor electrode, and a pump-cell controller. When the gas sensor element is activated before detecting a concentration of a gas, in order to remove oxygen occluded in the sensor electrode, the pump-cell controller applies a removing voltage to the pump cell so that a reducing gas is generated. The sensor electrode has a plurality of noble metal regions which are made of noble metal and electrolyte regions which are distributed so that an interface is generated between a part of a solid electrolyte body and the plurality of noble metal regions. The sensor electrode has an open pore which extends from an electrode surface of the sensor electrode and reaches at least one of the plurality of noble metal regions.