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Title: Optical methods and systems for detecting a constituent in a gas containing oxygen in harsh environments

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1017461

A method for detecting a gas phase constituent such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen, or hydrocarbons in a gas comprising oxygen such as air, includes providing a sensing material or film having a metal embedded in a catalytically active matrix such as gold embedded in a yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) matrix. The method may include annealing the sensing material at about 900.degree. C., exposing the sensing material and gas to a temperature above 400.degree. C., projecting light onto the sensing material, and detecting a change in the absorption spectrum of the sensing material due to the exposure of the sensing material to the gas in air at the temperature which causes a chemical reaction in the sensing material compared to the absorption spectrum of the sensing material in the absence of the gas. Systems employing such a method are also disclosed.

Research Organization:
The Research Foundation of State University of New York (Albany, NY)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FG26-04NT42184
Assignee:
The Research Foundation of State University of New York (Albany, NY)
Patent Number(s):
7,864,322
Application Number:
12/293,501
OSTI ID:
1017461
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Optical CO sensitivity of Au–CuO composite film by use of the plasmon absorption change journal December 2003
High-throughput screening using the surface plasmon resonance effect of colloidal gold nanoparticles journal January 2001