Ceramic electrolytes and electrochemical sensors

The electrochemical method involving solid electrolytes has been known as a selective and an accurate way of sensing chemical species in the environment and even in liquid metal for some time. The most successful among the electrochemical sensors are the emission control sensor (lambda-sensor) for the automobile engine and the oxygen sensor used in steelmaking, both made of stabilized zirconia. This article presents an overview of basic principles of various types of electrochemical sensors including active (potentiometric) and passive (amperometric) sensors. Recent advances in oxygen (O-2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H-2) sensors are also presented. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.