Nanogold on powdered cobalt oxide for carbon monoxide sensor

Powders of Co3O4 and Au/Co3O4 were used as sensing material for a solid electrolyte sensor of carbon monoxide. Prepared powders were deposited on the anode of a galvanic cell using a mixed oxide electrolyte of 5% Y2O3 and 95% ZrO2. By comparison with other metal oxides, Co3O4 displayed good response time and high sensitivity at a moderate temperature of 130 °C. Impregnation of nano-sized crystallites of gold improved the signal of the fabricated sensor. The required operation temperature is limited by the conductivity of the solid electrolyte in the cell.