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1 – 10 of 77Yankun Tang, Ming Zhang, Kedong Chen, Sher Ali Nawaz, Hairong Wang, Jiuhong Wang and Xianqing Tian
Detecting O2 gas in a confined space at room temperature is particularly important to monitor the work process of precision equipment. This study aims to propose a miniaturized…
Abstract
Purpose
Detecting O2 gas in a confined space at room temperature is particularly important to monitor the work process of precision equipment. This study aims to propose a miniaturized, low-cost, mass-scale produced O2 sensor operating around 30°C.
Design/methodology/approach
The O2 sensor based on lanthanum fluoride (LaF3) solid electrolyte thin film was developed using MEMS technology. The principle of the sensor was a galvanic cell H2O, O2, Pt | LaF3 | Sn, SnF2 |, in which the Sn film was prepared by magnetron sputtering, and the LaF3 film was prepared by thermal resistance evaporation.
Findings
Through pretreatments, the sensor’s response signal to 40% oxygen concentration was enhanced from 1.9 mV to 46.0 mV at 30°C and 97.0% RH. Tests at temperatures from 30°C to 50°C and humidity from 32.4% RH to 97.0% RH indicated that the output electromotive force (EMF) has a linear relationship with the logarithm of the oxygen concentration. The sensitivity of the sensor increases with an increase in both humidity and temperature in the couple mode, and the EMF of the sensor follows well with the Nernst equation at different temperatures and humidity.
Practical implications
This research could be applied to monitor the oxygen concentration below 25% in confined spaces at room temperature safely without a power supply.
Originality/value
The relationship between temperature and humidity coupling and the response of the sensor was obtained. The nano-film material was integrated with the MEMS process. It is expected to be practically applied in the future.
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Chinmay Roy, Aparna Ghosh and Suman Chatterjee
This paper aims to estimate the relationship between defect structure with gas concentration for use as a gas sensor. The change in defect concentration caused a shift in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to estimate the relationship between defect structure with gas concentration for use as a gas sensor. The change in defect concentration caused a shift in the Fermi level, which in turn changed the surface potential, which is manifested as the potentiometric response of the sensing element.
Design/methodology/approach
A new theoretical concept based on defect chemistry and band structure was used to explain the experimental gas response of a sensor. The theoretically simulated response was compared with experimental results.
Findings
Understanding the origin of potentiometric response, through the generation of defects and a corresponding shift in Fermi level of sensing surface, by the adsorption of gas. Through this understanding, the design of a sensor with improved selectivity and stability to a gas can be achieved by the study of defect structure and subsequent band analysis.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides information about various types of surface defects and numerical simulation of material with defect structure. The Fermi energy of the simulated value is correlated with the potentiometric sensor response.
Practical implications
Gas sensors are an integral part of vehicular and industrial pollution control. The theory developed shows the origin of response which can help in identifying the best sensing material and its optimum temperature of operation.
Social implications
Low-cost, reliable and highly sensitive gas sensors are highly demanded which is fulfilled by potentiometric sensors.
Originality/value
The operating principle of potentiometric sensors is analyzed through electron band structure analysis. With the change in measured gas concentration, the oxygen partial pressure changes. This results in a change in defect concentration in the sensing surface. Band structure analysis shows that change in defect concentration is associated with a shift in Fermi level. This is the origin of the potentiometric response.
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Shaohong Wei, Youjuan Zhang and Meihua Zhou
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize SnO2–ZnO hollow nanofibers, study their sensing properties and introduce an attractive candidate for formaldehyde detection in practice…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize SnO2–ZnO hollow nanofibers, study their sensing properties and introduce an attractive candidate for formaldehyde detection in practice.
Design/methodology/approach
Pure and SnO2–ZnO hollow nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning method and characterized via X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The formaldehyde-sensing properties were investigated.
Findings
The optimum performance was obtained at 260°C by the 14 at.% SnO2–ZnO hollow nanofiber sensor. The sensor could detect formaldehyde down to 0.1 ppm with rapid response–recovery time (4-6 s and 7-9 s, respectively), high sensitivity, good selectivity and stability. The relationship between the sensor’s sensitivity and formaldehyde concentration suggests that the adsorbed oxygen species on the sensor’s surface is O2−. The prominent sensing properties are attributed to the one dimensional hollow nanofiber structures and the promoting effects of SnO2.
Practical implications
The sensor fabricated from 14 at.% SnO2–ZnO fibers exhibits excellent formaldehyde-sensing characteristics. It can be used for formaldehyde detection in practice.
Social implications
The electrospinning method is a very simple and convenient method for fabricating hollow nanofibers and the sensing material is of low cost.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, studies on formaldehyde sensing of SnO2–ZnO hollow nanofibers have not been reported before.
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Looks at modern electrochemical gas sensors: they way they workand the range of gases they can detect. The largest application area is inportable gas detection equipment where the…
Abstract
Looks at modern electrochemical gas sensors: they way they work and the range of gases they can detect. The largest application area is in portable gas detection equipment where the emphasis is on small size and low power demands. These sensors are also used for emissions monitoring, specifically from combustion sources. Concludes that portable multigas detectors will continue to get smaller with a consequent reduction in size of sensors and that a wider range of gas sensors will be available with advances in electrochemistry.
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Detection of toxic gases in an industrial environment is a growing problem. Laboratory analysis of samples involves delay, and the most suitable equipment would be continuously…
Abstract
Detection of toxic gases in an industrial environment is a growing problem. Laboratory analysis of samples involves delay, and the most suitable equipment would be continuously operating personal monitors. At present this can rarely be achieved, but research on metal oxide sensors points to the possibility of a number of applications in the near future.
Summarizes some of the most commonly used gas sensors and describes howeach one works. Covers solid state gas sensors; aqueous electrochemicalgas sensors; paramagnetic gas sensors…
Abstract
Summarizes some of the most commonly used gas sensors and describes how each one works. Covers solid state gas sensors; aqueous electrochemical gas sensors; paramagnetic gas sensors, photometric gas sensors; thermal conductivity gas sensors and fibre‐optic gas sensors.
Radislav Potyrailo and Sergei Golubkov
Achievements in guided wave optics have had a great influence on many areas of technology for several years. Fibre optic communication links, sensors for various parameters…
Abstract
Achievements in guided wave optics have had a great influence on many areas of technology for several years. Fibre optic communication links, sensors for various parameters, recently developed distributed temperature sensors, integrated optical switches, etc. are all applications that are commercially available. The field of analytical chemistry is no exception in this growing technology. In order to compete with well‐established chemical‐sensing instrumentation, optical waveguide chemical sensors (OWCSs) must show all the qualities of such instrumentation. OWCSs combine well‐known features of sensors, based on waveguide optics, with optical methods of chemical analysis and offer advantages over other types of chemical sensor. OWCSs are electrically passive, corrosion‐resistant, can respond to analytes for which other chemical sensors are not available, and referencing can be carried out optically. They allow multicomponent measurements at several wavelengths, have a common technology for fabrication of sensors for different chemical and physical parameters and are easily compatible with telemetry etc. Further, only OWCSs are capable of distributed sensing. However, interference from ambient light, temperature, long‐term instability, relatively slow response time, and limited dynamic range may be a problem for some types of OWCS. These disadvantages can be considerably reduced using various methods.
City Technology is one company that seems to know how to run a sensor manufacturing business, as Stephen McClelland explains.
Sensor survey highlights centres of excellence in the UK.
Dongfang Yang, Vladimir Pankov, Linruo Zhao and Prakash Patnaik
Accurate measurements of the temperature distributions in hot section components are indispensable for the prognostic and health management of gas turbines. Thin film thermocouple…
Abstract
Purpose
Accurate measurements of the temperature distributions in hot section components are indispensable for the prognostic and health management of gas turbines. Thin film thermocouple (TFTC) sensors, directly fabricated on the surface of a component, add negligible mass and create little or no disturbance to airflow, and therefore, can provide accurate measurements of fast temperature fluctuations of gas turbines. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate TFTC sensors fabricated by combining pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and micromachining techniques (LM).
Design/methodology/approach
The “dry” PLD/LM fabrication approach allows for excellent control of the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the constituent layers and their interfaces, thus achieving good adhesion of the layers to the substrate.
Findings
The results of thermal cyclic durability testing of the fabricated TFTC sensors demonstrated that the proposed PLD-based approach can be used to fabricate sensors that are fully functional at temperatures up to 750°C. Analyses of the sensor performance during durability testing revealed: the existence of a threshold temperature below which accurate temperature measurements were achieved; an abrupt drop in the sensor output occurring when the sensor temperature exceeded the threshold value, with a fast recovery of the sensor output once the temperature was reduced below the threshold level; and sensor “training” capable of increasing the threshold value of the TFTC through its exposure to above-the-threshold temperatures.
Originality/value
The work is the first time to demonstrate that simple PLD and LM processes can be used to fabricate TFTC that are fully functional at temperatures up to 750°C.
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