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Laboratory Application and Demonstration of Automotive Oxygen Sensors

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T. Schober and J. Friedrich

Institut für Festkörperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

J. Chem. Educ., 1999, 76 (12), p 1697

DOI: 10.1021/ed076p1697

Publication Date (Web): December 1, 1999

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

The application and demonstration of automotive oxygen (lambda) sensors in the laboratory is discussed. After a presentation of the electrochemical principle, selected experiments are outlined, which cover a broad spectrum of possible applications. In addition to the possibility of measuring partial pressures of oxygen, the use of these sensors in a fuel cell mode is described. Closely related to the latter case is the measurement of water vapor pressures in certain gas mixtures. Passing currents through the sensors allows removing (or adding) trace oxygen from (to) gas streams. In this way, low p_O2 (10^-22 bar) Ar-H₂O-H₂ mixtures may be generated. Electrochemical pumping of oxygen from CO₂ gas streams allows the production of low p_O2 CO₂-CO mixtures.