Chemical and physical sensors based on oxygen pumping with solid state electrochemical cells

Abstract

The authors discuss the use of the oxygen pumping principle with ZrO/sub 2/ solid-state electrochemical cells to generate a variety of sensors for measuring chemical species such as oxygen, CO, hydrocarbons, and H/sub 2/O, as well as physical parameters such as gas pressure and flow. Laboratory results on the behavior of some of these sensors are also presented. The variety of devices discussed shows the versatility of the oxygen pumping principle in realizing unique sensors. Although most of these are basically chemical sensors, it is possible in some cases to also generate sensors for physical variables such as gas pressure and flow.<>