Systems and methods for the detection of compounds
Inventors
Gregory, Otto J. • Mallin, Daniel • Caron, Zach • Champlin, Mitch
Assignees
Trace Sensing Technologies Inc • Council On Postsecondary Education
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Publication Number
US-9759699-B1
Publication Date
2017-09-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
A gas sensor system is disclosed for detection of a compound that decomposes upon exposure to a metal oxide catalyst. The gas sensor system includes a sensor which includes a microheater, and a metal oxide catalyst that covers the microheater. The gas sensor system includes a pre-concentrator upstream from the sensor that lowers the limit of the detection of a compound.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a gas sensor system for detection of a compound that decomposes upon exposure to a metal oxide catalyst. The system includes a sensor that has a microheater and a metal oxide catalyst that covers the microheater. A conductometric portion is directly coupled to the microheater and includes electrodes and the metal oxide catalyst, where the conductometric portion measures a conductometric response indicative of a change in electrical resistivity of metal oxides when exposed to the compound.
The system further includes a thermodynamic portion that includes a thermocouple and the microheater, where the thermodynamic portion measures a thermodynamic response indicative of a heat effect associated with the catalytic decomposition of the compound. The conductometric response and thermodynamic response are produced simultaneously, and the sensor, microheater, conductometric portion, and thermodynamic portion form a single integrated unit.
An upstream pre-concentrator delivers the compound for a pre-determined period of time and trapped compound is released by heating the pre-concentrator. The compound is then exposed to the integrated sensor, and the system filters out heat effects by the sensor to detect the compound. The described approach supports detection sensitivity improvements with reduced detection limits.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include two independent claims. Both center on simultaneous conductometric and thermodynamic measurement using an integrated microheater and catalyst sensor, and the method claim further adds pre-concentration and heat-effect filtering.
Integrated conductometric-and-thermodynamic sensor for catalytic decomposition
A gas sensor system for detection of a compound that decomposes upon exposure to a metal oxide catalyst, comprising a sensor with a microheater; a metal oxide catalyst that covers the microheater; a conductometric portion directly coupled to the microheater and including electrodes and the metal oxide catalyst to measure a conductometric response indicative of a change in electrical resistivity of metal oxides when exposed to the compound; and a thermodynamic portion including a thermocouple and the microheater to measure a thermodynamic response indicative of a heat effect associated with the catalytic decomposition of the compound, wherein the conductometric response and thermodynamic response are produced simultaneously and the sensor, microheater, conductometric portion, and thermodynamic portion form a single integrated unit.
Pre-concentration, simultaneous dual-response measurement, and filtering heat effects
A method for detecting a compound using a gas sensor system, wherein the compound decomposes upon exposure to a metal oxide catalyst, comprising delivering the compound to a pre-concentrator for a pre-determined period of time; initiating compound desorption of trapped compound by heating the pre-concentrator; exposing the compound to a microheater covered by a metal oxide catalyst of a sensor; measuring a conductometric response using a conductometric portion, wherein the conductometric portion includes electrodes and the metal oxide catalyst and is coupled to the microheater; measuring a thermodynamic response using a thermodynamic portion including a thermocouple and the microheater, wherein the thermodynamic response is indicative of a heat effect associated with catalytic decomposition, the conductometric response and thermodynamic response are produced simultaneously, and the sensor, microheater, conductometric portion, and thermodynamic portion form a single integrated unit; and filtering out heat effects by the sensor to detect the compound.
Across the independent claims, the inventive concept is simultaneous generation of a conductometric response and a thermodynamic response from a catalytic decomposition process using a single integrated microheater/catalyst unit with a thermocouple, with the method claim additionally specifying upstream pre-concentration and filtering out heat effects.
Stated Advantages
Detection sensitivity improvements with reduced detection limits.
Documented Applications
Detection of a compound that decomposes upon exposure to a metal oxide catalyst.
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