Patent ID: 7384524

Claim:
A carbon monoxide sensor comprising: a membrane electrode assembly for facilitating proton exchange comprising: a proton-exchange membrane for receiving electrical current, having an anode side and a cathode side, and an electrically conductive coating for covering at least a portion of each of the anode side and the cathode side of the proton-exchange membrane, wherein the electrically conductive coating comprises a concentration of platinum ranging from approximately 0.001 mg/cm 2 to 1.0 mg/cm 2 ; an anode connected with the anode side for facilitating dissociation of hydrogen comprising: a first current collector for collecting current, wherein the first current collector has at least one exterior surface, and comprises a first plate for providing an electrical connection, wherein the first plate is electrically connected to the exterior surface of the first current collector; a cathode connected with the cathode side for receiving a current of electricity for delivery to the membrane electrode comprising: a second current collector for collecting current, wherein the second current collector has at least one exterior surface, and comprises a second plate for providing an electrical connection, wherein the second plate is electrically connected to the exterior surface of the second current collector; a sample gas source for supplying a sample gas stream to the anode side of the sensor; an air source for periodically refreshing the carbon monoxide sensor to an unpoisoned state by supplying air to the anode side of the sensor; a voltage controller configured to maintain the closed-cell potential of the sensor at a constant potential; a reader in series with the voltage controller, the reader configured to measure the closed-cell current of the sensor; and an output configured to relate the inverse relationship between the closed-cell current of the sensor and the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) present in the sample gas stream flowing through the anode side of the sensor; wherein the membrane electrode assembly, the anode, and the cathode are electrically connected for transmitting a current and facilitating a proton-exchange reaction when the sample gas stream and the air alternately flow through the anode side of the sensor, and wherein the transmitted current is used to quantify the carbon monoxide concentration in the sample gas stream.