Nanocomposites in Electrochemical Sensors

Abstract

Present chapter shows that the design of solid state and polymer-based electrochemical gas sensors are the field of nanocomposites application. Usually almost all elements of electrochemical sensors such as solid electrolytes, sensing and auxiliary electrodes, polymer-modified electrodes, membranes, carbon-ceramic electrodes are being designed on the base of composites. Features of mentioned above nanocomposites application in electrochemical gas sensors are discussed. It is shown that the using of composites gives real improvement of operating characteristics of electrochemical gas sensors. For example, the using of composites provides the achievement of high temporal stability, high thermal stability and high conductivity of ionic salts used in electrochemical gas sensors. Gas diffusion electrode using composite carbon black–fluorocarbon (C–F) membrane had higher sensitivity to NO2 and selectivity of NO2 against ozone than that using conventional expanded PTFE (Nafion) membrane, etc.. Chapter includes 6 figures, 6 Table and 94 references.