Materials Science Forum, Vol.514-516, 1379-1384, 2006
Effect of oxygen content on impedance spectra of PtRh electrodes for NOx sensing applications
Growing awareness of dangers related to NOX emission by industry and road transportation has resulted in increasing demand for sensors detecting NOX. An important class of these sensors use Pt-based electrodes applied on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates. Performance of such sensors depends on redox reactions occurring at electrodes in the tested atmospheres. Impedance spectra and j-U curves of PtRh electrodes were measured in a 3-electrode mode, using Pt metal pads as counter and reference electrodes. The data were collected in a 10mHz-100kHz frequency range at temperatures from 450 to 750 degrees C. Each series of measurements was carried out in a gas mixture with different oxygen content ranging from 0 to 21 vol%. It was found out that the low-frequency part of the impedance spectra (characterizing electrode processes) was sensitive to the oxygen content in the gas mixtures.