An investigation of novel low-temperature carbon monoxide gas sensors

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and highly toxic gas. The detection of CO is a key requirement for safety and control in combustion processes. A number of sensors are currently available but all have drawbacks with most if not all having questions raised about their effective detection of CO over other gases such as hydrogen and methane. The power consumption of some methods of gas sensing is high as the active material must be heated to 400.600°C in order to function. The aim of this project was to attempt to eliminate this high power requirement and to study the design, fabrication and testing of CO sensors which function at room temperature, based on a supported platinum electrode in combination with a solid polymer electrolyte. It is therefore conceivable that the power source of such a sensor could be a battery, which could power a microcontroller and the relatively simple diagnostic testing equipment in a final commercial product. [Continues.]