Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
Solid electrolyte sensor element for electrochemical sensing of composition of a gas to which the element is exposed comprising an electrode (2) positioned to contact said gas; an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte body (1) which comprises partially stabilized ZrO 2 ; and an ion conductive solid electrolyte intermediate layer (4) having a higher specific oxygen ion conductivity than said solid electrolyte body (1) and which does not contain metal and which consists essentially of fully stabilized ZrO 2 which is stabilized with a stabilizer oxide comprising at least one of the materials of the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 , oxides of heavy rare earth other than the foregoing, CaO and MgO, said intermediate layer (4) being located between and integral with the electrode (2) and the surface of the solid electrolytic body (1) thereby positioning the electrode (2) out of direct contact with the solid electrolyte body (1) to form the three phase boundary of said sensor element between (i) ion conductive solid electrolyte, (ii) electrode, and (iii) gas, at the contact of said electrode (2) and said ion conductive solid electrolyte intermediate layer (4).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
Solid electrolyte sensor element for electrochemical sensing of composition of a gas to which the element is exposed comprising an electrode (2) positioned to contact said gas; an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte body (1) which comprises partially stabilized ZrO 2 ; and an ion conductive solid electrolyte intermediate layer (4) having a higher specific oxygen ion conductivity than said solid electrolyte body (1) and which does not contain metal and which consists essentially of fully stabilized ZrO 2 which is stabilized with a stabilizer oxide comprising at least one of the materials of the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 , oxides of heavy rare earth other than the foregoing, CaO and MgO, said intermediate layer (4) being located between and integral with the electrode (2) and the surface of the solid electrolytic body (1) thereby positioning the electrode (2) out of direct contact with the solid electrolyte body (1) to form the three phase boundary of said sensor element between (i) ion conductive solid electrolyte, (ii) electrode, and (iii) gas, at the contact of said electrode (2) and said ion conductive solid electrolyte intermediate layer (4).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Element according to claim 1, wherein the electrode (2) comprises a single electrode layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Element according to claim 1, wherein the electrode (2) comprises a composite electrode layer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer (4) and the solid electrolyte body (1) contain at least one of the materials: Al 2 O 3 ; monoclinic ZrO 2 ; and wherein the amount of said materials in the intermediate layer (4) is less than in the solid electrolyte body (1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
Element according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate layer is in the zone free from the electrode and comprises fully stabilized ZrO 2 which contains from between 2 to 85% (by volume) Al 2 O 3 , and which is fully stabilized with at least one of the materials of the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Element according to claim 5, wherein the Al 2 O 3 content is between 15 to 50% (by volume).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Element according to claim 1, wherein the layer (4) extends over the surface of the sensor body (5) beyond the region or zone of application of the electrode (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
In combination, an internal combustion engine and a solid electrolyte sensor element for electrochemical sensing of the composition of exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, having a sensor comprising an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte body (1) and an electrode (2) on the surface of the body, and a surface layer (4) which consists essentially of an ion conductive solid electrolyte having a higher specific oxygen ion conductivity than the solid electrolyte body (1) and which does not contain metal, located between and integral with the electrode (2) and the surface of the solid electrolyte body (1) thereby positioning the electrode (2) out of direct contact with the solid electrolyte body (1) to form the three phase boundary of said sensor element between ion conductive solid electrolyte, electrode, and gases at the contact of said ion conductive solid electrolyte surface layer (4) and said electrode (2).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
In combination, an internal combustion engine and a solid electrolyte sensor element for electrochemical sensing of the composition of exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, having a sensor comprising an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte body (1) and an electrode (2) on the surface of the body, and a surface layer (4) which consists essentially of an ion conductive solid electrolyte having a higher specific oxygen ion conductivity than the solid electrolyte body (1) and which does not contain metal, located between and integral with the electrode (2) and the surface of the solid electrolyte body (1) thereby positioning the electrode (2) out of direct contact with the solid electrolyte body (1) to form the three phase boundary of said sensor element between ion conductive solid electrolyte, electrode, and gases at the contact of said ion conductive solid electrolyte surface layer (4) and said electrode (2).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein the solid electrolyte body (1) comprises fully stabilized ZrO 2 and from 5 to 85% (by volume) Al 2 O 3 , and the layer (4) also comprises fully stabilized ZrO 2 containing less Al 2 O 3 than said body (1).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 9, wherein the content of Al 2 O 3 of said body (1) is between about 5 to 50% by volume.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein the solid electrolyte body comprises partially stabilized ZrO 2 ; and said surface layer (4) comprises fully stabilized ZrO 2 which is stabilized by at least one of the stabilizer oxides of the group consisting of CaO, Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , and MgO.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein said surface layer is fully stabilized ZrO 2 , and is stabilized by at least one of the stabilizer oxides of the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 , or oxides of heavy rare earth other than the foregoing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein said surface layer (4) and said solid electrolyte body (1) contain at least one of the materials: Al 2 O 3 ; monoclinic ZrO 2 ; and wherein the amount of said materials in said layer (4) is less than in the solid electrolyte body (1).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein the solid electrolyte body (1) comprises partially stabilized ZrO 2 ; and said surface layer (4) in the area free from the electrode comprises fully stabilized ZrO 2 which contains from between 2 to 85% (by volume) Al 2 O 3 , and which is fully stabilized with at least one of the materials of the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 and Yb 2 O 3 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 14, wherein the Al 2 O 3 content is between 15 to 50% (by volume).