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Improvement on mixed-potential type ammonia sensor by a Cr2O3 gas-phase catalyst layer

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Abstract

Mixed-potential type ammonia sensors based on yttria-stabilized zirconia are promising devices in NOx reducing system for high-temperature exhaust. However, selectivity is a critical issue that should be urgently addressed. Herein, a novel bilayer Cr2O3|In2O3 sensing electrode (SE) was designed to improve the selectivity of the ammonia sensor, in which an additional Cr2O3 layer was deposited on In2O3 SE. The selectivity was examined in NH3, CO, NO and NO2. Finally, the sensor with the bilayer Cr2O3|In2O3 SE exhibits an improvement of NH3 selectivity at 600 °C, which is attributed to the Cr2O3 layer catalysing the removal of CO and NOx before the gases reach the triple-phase boundaries (TPBs). Furthermore, the mixed-potential model of the NH3 sensor with the bilayer SE was identified using the polarization curves obtained in different concentrations of NH3. Additionally, the proposed sensor displayed a good repeatability and resistances to CO2 and H2O. This innovative bilayer Cr2O3|In2O3 SE is expected to be applied in high-temperature NH3 detection.

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Abbreviations

NOx :

Nitrogen oxides

RE:

Reference electrode

SCR:

Selective catalytic reduction

SE:

Sensing electrode

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

TPB:

Triple-phase boundary

YSZ:

Yttria-stabilized zirconia

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (61971251), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (grant no. 2019M663474), Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang (grant no. LGG22F010017, LY18F010009), Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo (grant no. 2018A610002) and Scientific Research Foundation of Education Department of Zhejiang Province (grant no. Y201942817).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China

    Dongxing Zhang, Jie Zou, Fuan Li & Jiawen Jian

  2. College of Digital Technology and Engineering, Ningbo University of Finance & Economics, Ningbo, 315175, China

    Dongxing Zhang

  3. School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

    Jie Zou & Yuanjie Su

  4. School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China

    Tao Yuan

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  1. Dongxing Zhang
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  4. Tao Yuan
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Correspondence to Jie Zou or Jiawen Jian.

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Zhang, D., Zou, J., Li, F. et al. Improvement on mixed-potential type ammonia sensor by a Cr2O3 gas-phase catalyst layer. J Solid State Electrochem 27, 1011–1020 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-023-05376-2

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