Examples of Thermal Chemical Sensors

The relative change of resistance is its sensitivity characterized as the thermistor coefficient a. It is obtained by dividing (3.10) by (3.11). 

the sensitivity of a thermistor is a quadratic function of operating temperature. The optimum sensitivity is typically 4% °C 1. Because of their nonlinear response, thermistors are sometimes linearized by placing a resistor of similar nominal value in parallel with the thermistor, with a resulting loss of sensitivity. This is not generally necessary for thermochemical sensors, particularly for the push-pull applications, because the temperature range involved is small. For direct temperature measurement, the detection limit of 10 4oC can be achieved with a conventional Wheatstone bridge. 

Modeling and optimization of chemical sensors can be assisted by creating equivalent electrical circuits in which an ordinary electrical element, such as a resistor, capacitor, diode, and so on, can represent an equivalent nonelectrical physical parameter. The analysis of the electrical circuit then greatly facilitates understanding of the complex behavior of the physical system that it represents. This is a particularly valuable approach in the analysis and interpretation of mass and electrochemical sensors, as shown in subsequent chapters. The basic rules of equivalent circuit analysis are summarized in Appendix D. Table 3.1 shows the equivalency of electrical and thermal parameters that can be used in such equivalent circuit modeling of chemical thermal sensors. 

A schematic diagram of a sensor based on a thermistor is shown in Fig. 3.2. Because of their sensitivity, thermistors are preferred over thermocouples however, any type of thermometer can be used in such design. There are some conflicting requirements 

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