According to one embodiment, a chemical sensor includes a sensor element. The sensor element includes a sensitive film and a treatment material. Physical properties of the sensitive film vary as bonding of a target substance to the sensitive film. The sensor element is configured to detect the variation in the physical properties. The treatment material is configured to carry out a treatment onto the target substance before the target substance bonds to the sensitive film.

Disclosed herein are gas detector devices and methods of making and use thereof. The gas detector devices comprise: a temperature control layer; a grounded electrode; and a pyroelectric layer; the grounded electrode being disposed between the temperature control layer and the pyroelectric layer; and a detection electrode opposite and spaced apart from the pyroelectric layer defining an ionization zone therebetween. Disclosed herein are gas detection methods comprising: introducing a gas into the ionization zone; heating/cooling the temperature control layer to induce a first potential in the pyroelectric layer sufficient to ionize a first gas component, thereby producing a first ion; detecting the first ion; subsequently, heating/cooling the temperature control layer to induce a second potential in the pyroelectric layer sufficient to ionize the first gas component and a second gas component, thereby producing the first ion and a second ion; and electrically detecting the first ion and the second ion.

A gas sensor including a conversion section for converting NO contained in a gas under measurement to NO.sub.2, and a detection section for detecting NO.sub.2 concentration in the gas under measurement after having passed through the conversion section. The conversion section includes a substrate portion which defines a flow passage for the gas under measurement, and a porous catalyst layer disposed on a surface of the substrate portion which converts NO to NO.sub.2. The flow passage has a hollow space in which the catalyst layer is not present and through which the gas under measurement flows. The catalyst layer has a thickness of 4 to 300 m as measured between the substrate portion and an outermost surface of the catalyst layer, the outermost surface being exposed to the hollow space.

A system and method for determining impurities in a beverage grade gas such as CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2 relies on a coupling of FTIR analysis and UV fluorescence detection. Conversion of reduced sulphur present in some impurities to SO.sub.2 can be conducted using a furnace. In some cases, CO.sub.2 % also is determined.

A reaction carrier (14), a measuring device (12) and a measuring method measure a concentration of gaseous/aerosol components of a gas mixture. The reaction carrier (14) has a flow channel (42) defining a reaction chamber (46) with an optically detectable reaction material (48) reacts with at least one component of the gas mixture or with a reaction product of the component. A humidity measuring element (84), of the reaction carrier (14), detects a humidity of the gas mixture flowing through the flow channel (42). The measuring device (12) has a humidity detection unit (85) that reads the humidity measuring element (84). A humidity determining unit (94) determines a humidity based on the detected humidity. The measuring method determines a humidity of the supplied gas mixture in the flow channel (42) and determines a concentration of the component on the basis of the optically detectable reaction and the measured humidity.

An electrochemical cell for sensing gas has added mechanical support for the working electrode to prevent flexure of the working electrode due to pressure differentials. The added mechanical support includes: 1) affixing a larger area of the working electrode to the body of the cell; 2) a gas vent to a cavity of the body to equalize pressures; 3) a rigid electrolyte layer abutting a back surface of the working electrode; 4) infusing an adhesive deep into sides of the porous working electrode to enhance rigidity; 5) supporting opposing surfaces of the working electrode with the rigid package body; and 6) other techniques to make the working electrode more rigid. A bias circuit is also described that uses a controllable current source, an integrator of the varying current, and a feedback circuit for supplying a voltage to the counter electrode and a bias voltage to the reference electrode.

New approaches for selective detection of chemical agents such as sarin are necessary because of the high toxicity of sarin and related compounds, the potential of these compounds to be used as weapons of mass destruction, and the limitations of current detection methodologies. Herein is described an apparatus and a method for selective and amplified detection of sarin simulants deposited via an aerosol process. The simulant absorbs into a hydrogel, where it hydrolyzes upon contact with water producing elemental ions. The elemental ions are then concentrated via an ionic chemical potential gradient to a sensor, where it is detected. This technique has potential to amplify the capture efficiency of a sensor by a 1000-fold within couple of minutes.

A micromechanical sensor device and a corresponding manufacturing method. The micromechanical sensor device is equipped with a substrate which includes a diaphragm area, multiple sensor layer areas being formed on the diaphragm area, which have a particular structured sensor layer; and a particular electrode device, via which the sensor layer areas are electrically connectable outside of the diaphragm area, the sensor layer areas being structured in such a way that they have length and width dimensions of a magnitude between 1 and 10 micrometers.

An improved instrument for counting nanoparticles suspended in a gas, particularly in a combustion gas, incorporates a counter device such as a Condensation Particle Counter, incorporates a pre-treatment stage to remove substances which can cause nucleation and false results, comprising a flow through monolith carrying an oxidation catalyst and an absorber, wherein the monolith has a call density of no more than 400 cells per square inch and an open area of at least 80%.

An apparatus including an oxidation cell configured to oxidize carbon monoxide to produce carbon dioxide; and a sensor configured to detect carbon dioxide produced by the oxidation cell.