SBIR Phase I: Solid State Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Sensor

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目致力于开发一种用于环境空气质量控制的小型化、廉价的固态电化学二氧化碳气体传感器，该传感器基于一种新的传感概念，利用固体聚合物电解质和厚膜器件微型化技术。二氧化碳排放是一个全球性问题。此外，办公室、家庭、室内运动场、封闭式停车场和学校的二氧化碳监测和控制也变得越来越重要。红外光谱分析方法主要用于商用二氧化碳监测仪。虽然红外光谱系统提供了可以接受的精度，但它很大，而且相对昂贵。据我们所知，无固态、室温电化学二氧化碳传感器可用于环境空气质量控制应用。拟议的新型电化学传感器可以配置为手持式或面板安装式房间设备或表面安装在空气管道上，将是可靠、廉价和紧凑的，并将在室温下产生增强的响应信号，利用微型厚膜传感器用于环境应用中的二氧化碳监测。建议的固态、室温电化学二氧化碳传感器的潜在商业应用包括：a)室内环境质量(IEQ)控制应用，其中基于居住、商业和工业空间的二氧化碳浓度的需求控制通风，可以在提高能源效率的同时改善室内环境。B)农业和生物相关工艺应用。通过控制二氧化碳浓度，可以提高植物的生长速度和发育速度。C)食品包装业。在肉类包装行业中，包装中高浓度的二氧化碳会抑制细菌生长，并保持肉类的自然颜色。D)医疗应用中，廉价的电化学传感器可以用来测量呼气中二氧化碳的浓度，并可以安装在呼吸系统中。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the development of a miniaturized and inexpensive solid-state electrochemical carbon dioxide gas sensor for environmental air quality control, based on a novel-sensing concept, utilizing solid polymer electrolytes and thick film device miniaturization techniques. Carbon dioxide emissions are a global issue. In addition, CO2 monitoring and control in offices, homes, indoor sport arenas, enclosed parking garages and schools are of growing importance. The method of infrared spectroscopy is predominantly used in commercially available carbon dioxide monitors. Although the infrared spectroscopic system offers acceptable precision, it is large and relatively expensive. To the best of our knowledge no solid state, room temperature electrochemical carbon dioxide sensor is commercially available for environmental air quality control applications. The proposed novel electrochemical sensor, which could be configured as a handheld or a panel mount room device or for surface mounting on air ducts, will be reliable, inexpensive and compact and will yield an enhanced response signal at room temperature, utilizing miniaturized thick film sensors for CO2 monitoring in environmental applications. The feasibility of the proposed novel concept will be demonstrated and the best catalyst material and thick film sensor design parameters will be identified.The potential commercial applications for the proposed solid state, room temperature electrochemical carbon dioxide sensor include: A) Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) control applications where demand control ventilation based on CO2 concentration of residential, commercial and industrial spaces occupied by people, could improve energy efficiency while simultaneously improving the indoor environment. B) Agricultural and bio-related process applications. The growth rate and development of plants can be improved by controlling the concentration of carbon dioxide. C) Food packaging industry. In the meat packaging industry, a high concentration of CO2 in the packaging inhibits bacterial growth and retains the natural color of the meat. D) Medical applications where an inexpensive electrochemical sensor could be used to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide in an exhaled breathe and could be incorporated in breathing systems.