title: A self-regenerable soot sensor with a proton-conductive thin electrolyte and a nanostructured platinum sensing electrode.
abstract: In recent years, exhaust sensors have become increasingly attractive for use in energy and environmental technologies. Important issues regarding practical applications of these sensors, especially for soot measurements, include the further development of ion-conductive electrolytes and active electrode catalysts for meeting performance and durability requirements. Herein, we design a proton conductor with a high breakdown voltage and a sensing electrode with high sensitivity to electrochemical carbon oxidation, enabling continuous soot monitoring with self-regeneration of the sensor. A Si0.97Al0.03HxP2O7-δlayer with an excellent balance between proton conductivity and voltage endurance was grown on the surface of a Si0.97Al0.03O2-δsubstrate by reacting it with liquid H3PO4at 600 °C. Specific reactivity of the electrochemically formed active oxygen toward soot was accomplished by adding a Pt-impregnated Sn0.9In0.1HxP2O7-δcatalyst into a Pt sensing electrode. To make the best use of these optimized materials, a unipolar electrochemical device was fabricated by configuring the sensing and counter electrodes on the same surface of the electrolyte layer. The resulting amperometric mode sensor successfully produced a current signal that corresponded to the quantity of soot.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Peiling
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Information Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Engine Component Department, Isuzu Motors Limited, Kanagawa 252-0881, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oogushi
authors.affiliation: R&D Operation, Development Division, IBIDEN co., Ltd, Gifu 501-0695, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hibino