Solid electrolyte chemical sensors zirconia-based electrolytes

More types of oxides used for electrodes of the zirconia-based sensors both enable and encourage more possible combinations. Greater diversity in zirconia structures and types of oxide electrodes leads, in turn, to more incompatibilities in chemical, physical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties. The irony is that the more diversity achieved with advanced solid electrolyte and electrode materials, the bigger the challenges that arise for their joining. Beyond sheer diversity, modem... 

A similar situation occurs with sensors based on several types of solid electrolytes (Fergus 2008). For example, carbonate and sulfate electrolytes could be used with CO and SO sensors. However, those electrolytes generally do not provide adequate stability (see Chap. 6 (Vol. 1)), and therefore the most promising sensors use common electrolytes, such as Nasicon, P-alumina, and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). These electrolytes require auxiliary electrodes to provide the desired response, but they provide good stability and long operating lives. Therefore, while optimizing the reactions responsible for a gas sensor s sensitivity, one should also aim to maximize the chemical, structural and time stability of the device. 

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