Patent ID: 7950271

Claim:
A sensor for detecting the presence of an analyte gas, the sensor comprising: a substrate; an insulating layer; a semiconducting layer separated from the substrate by the insulating layer; a first contact contacting the semiconducting layer; a second contact contacting the semiconducting layer; and a third contact contacting the substrate; wherein the semiconducting layer comprises beta-molybdenum oxide capable of chemical interaction with carbon monoxide; wherein the third contact is a conductive layer on the substrate separated from the semiconducting layer by an insulator; and wherein the insulating layer, the semiconducting layer, first contact, second contact, and third contact are arranged in an architecture predetermined such that the beta-molybdenum oxide detects a variation in the level of the carbon monoxide as a variation in a current between the first and second contacts occurring when a voltage is applied across the first contact and the third contact.