Amperometric nitric oxide sensors with enhanced selectivity over carbon monoxide via platinum oxide formation under alkaline conditions.
An improved planar amperometric nitric oxide (NO) sensor with enhanced selectivity over carbon monoxide (CO), which represents a volatile interfering species for NO sensors that has been largely overlooked until recently, is described. Formation of an oxide film on the inner platinum working electrode via anodic polarization using an inner alkaline electrolyte solution provides the basis for improved selectivity. Cyclic voltammetry reveals that formation of an oxidized Pt film inhibits adsorption of CO to the electrode surface, which is a necessary initial step in the electrocatalytic oxidation of CO on Pt. Previous NO gas sensors that employ internal electrolyte solutions have been assembled using acidic internal solutions that inhibit the formation of a dense platinum oxide film on the working electrode surface. It is demonstrated herein that increasing the internal electrolyte pH promotes oxidized platinum film formation, resulting in improved selectivity over CO. Selectivity coefficients (log KNO,j) for sensors assembled with internal solutions at various pH values range from -0.08 at pH 2.0 to -2.06 at pH 11.7, with average NO sensitivities of 1.24 nA/μM and a limit of detection (LOD) of <1 nM.
Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055.
Gary C
GC
Jensen
Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055.
Zheng
Z
Zheng
Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055.
Mark E
ME
Meyerhoff
D000468:Alkalies / Q000737:chemistry*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*
D000468:Alkalies; D010087:Oxides; C514637:platinum oxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010984:Platinum; D002248:Carbon Monoxide