A single-use disposable potentiometric reference sensor includes an insulating base substrate, a reference electrode disposed on the insulating base substrate where the reference electrode is a silver-silver chloride electrode, an internal layer disposed on the reference electrode where the internal layer is an amorphous salt layer that includes an amorphous polysaccharide and a salt having equi-mobility cations and anions, and a semipermeable cover membrane disposed over the internal layer where the semipermeable cover membrane has water vapor and ion permeability.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide nanopore devices, such as nanopore sensors and/or other nanofluidic devices. In one or more embodiments, a nanopore device contains a substrate, an optional lower protective oxide layer disposed on the substrate, a membrane disposed on the lower protective oxide layer, and an optional upper protective oxide layer disposed on the membrane. The membrane has a pore and contains silicon nitride. The silicon nitride has a nitrogen to silicon ratio of about 0.98 to about 1.02 and the membrane has an intrinsic stress value of about −1,000 MPa to about 1,000 MPa. The nanopore device also contains a channel extending through at least the substrate, the lower protective oxide layer, the membrane, the upper protective oxide layer, and the upper protective silicon nitride layer.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide nanopore devices, such as nanopore sensors and/or other nanofluidic devices. In one or more embodiments, a nanopore device contains a substrate, an optional lower protective oxide layer disposed on the substrate, a membrane disposed on the lower protective oxide layer, and an optional upper protective oxide layer disposed on the membrane. The membrane has a pore and contains silicon nitride. The silicon nitride has a nitrogen to silicon ratio of about 0.98 to about 1.02 and the membrane has an intrinsic stress value of about −1,000 MPa to about 1,000 MPa. The nanopore device also contains a channel extending through at least the substrate, the lower protective oxide layer, the membrane, the upper protective oxide layer, and the upper protective silicon nitride layer.

The invention relates to a method for a fabrication of a pore comprising membrane and a pore comprising membrane. The pore comprising membrane (1) comprises at least a porous metallic layer (3) on a porous substrate (6), wherein the porous metallic layer (3) is connected to the porous substrate (6) and the pores (4) of the metallic layer (3) overlap at least partially with the pores (7) of the porous substrate (6). The method comprises at least the following steps: i) deposition of the metallic layer (3) onto a support material (2), wherein the deposited metallic layer (3) forms a plurality of feedthroughs, in particular a percolation network on the support material (2), ii) removal of the support material (2), iii) connecting of the metallic layer (3) with the porous substrate (6) such that pores (4) of the metallic layer (3) overlap at least partially with the pores (7) of the porous substrate (6).

The invention relates to a method for a fabrication of a pore comprising membrane and a pore comprising membrane. The pore comprising membrane (1) comprises at least a porous metallic layer (3) on a porous substrate (6), wherein the porous metallic layer (3) is connected to the porous substrate (6) and the pores (4) of the metallic layer (3) overlap at least partially with the pores (7) of the porous substrate (6). The method comprises at least the following steps: i) deposition of the metallic layer (3) onto a support material (2), wherein the deposited metallic layer (3) forms a plurality of feedthroughs, in particular a percolation network on the support material (2), ii) removal of the support material (2), iii) connecting of the metallic layer (3) with the porous substrate (6) such that pores (4) of the metallic layer (3) overlap at least partially with the pores (7) of the porous substrate (6).

Electrochemical gas sensors are positioned in housings having open inlets for ambient gases. Leak tight caps fit over gas inlet while currents are detected until output currents are stabilized and zero baseline currents or establish for sensor calibration. The leak tight caps are removed and replaced by caps holding porous fabric membranes over the inlets. The porous fabric membranes are made of natural fibres based on keratin, cellulose, linen, as well as man-made viscose and blends. The porous fabric membranes reduce rapid humidity responses without appreciably affecting sensor responses to target gases. The porous fabric membranes release heat when water is absorbed and absorb heat when water is released. The porous fabric membranes buffer changes in temperature and humidity without significantly decreasing the gas being detected.

Electrochemical gas sensors are positioned in housings having open inlets for ambient gases. Leak tight caps fit over gas inlet while currents are detected until output currents are stabilized and zero baseline currents or establish for sensor calibration. The leak tight caps are removed and replaced by caps holding porous fabric membranes over the inlets. The porous fabric membranes are made of natural fibres based on keratin, cellulose, linen, as well as man-made viscose and blends. The porous fabric membranes reduce rapid humidity responses without appreciably affecting sensor responses to target gases. The porous fabric membranes release heat when water is absorbed and absorb heat when water is released. The porous fabric membranes buffer changes in temperature and humidity without significantly decreasing the gas being detected.

There is presented an electrochemical sensor (100) for sensing an analyte in an associated volume (106), the sensor comprising a first solid element and a second solid element being joined to the first solid element, a chamber (110) being placed at least partially between the first solid element and the second solid element, said chamber comprising a reaction region (130), and a reservoir region (132) being connected with the reaction region, wherein an one or more analyte permeable openings (122) connect the reaction region (130) with the associated volume (106), and wherein the electrochemical sensor (100) further comprises an analyte permeable membrane (124) in said one or more analyte permeable openings, a working electrode (104) a reference electrode (108), and a guard electrode (109) arranged so as to enable reduction or oxidation of at least some reactants from at least a part of the reservoir region.

There is presented an electrochemical sensor (100) for sensing an analyte in an associated volume (106), the sensor comprising a first solid element and a second solid element being joined to the first solid element, a chamber (110) being placed at least partially between the first solid element and the second solid element, said chamber comprising a reaction region (130), and a reservoir region (132) being connected with the reaction region, wherein an one or more analyte permeable openings (122) connect the reaction region (130) with the associated volume (106), and wherein the electrochemical sensor (100) further comprises an analyte permeable membrane (124) in said one or more analyte permeable openings, a working electrode (104) a reference electrode (108), and a guard electrode (109) arranged so as to enable reduction or oxidation of at least some reactants from at least a part of the reservoir region.

The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical sensor for determining a measurand correlating with a concentration of an analyte in a measuring fluid, comprising: a sensor membrane designed to be in contact with the measuring fluid for detecting measured values of the measurand; a probe housing which has at least one immersion region designed for immersion into the measuring fluid, wherein the sensor membrane is arranged in the immersion region of the probe housing; and a measurement circuit which is at least partially contained in the probe housing and is designed to generate and output a measurement signal dependent on the measurand, wherein the sensor membrane contains an optically detectable substance for marking the sensor membrane.