Application of an ionization chamber as a gas sensor

A potentially promising approach to using an ionization chamber as a gas sensor is operating it in an alternating electric field. The resulting selectivity can hardly be compared to that of an ion mobility spectrometer, but significantly simpler construction of the chamber and operating principle itself deserve attention and offer possibilities for further optimization. It is shown that by using suitable operating conditions, the chamber will operate in a mode that produces the greatest change in total current after formation of less mobile product ions. Theoretical results are also experimentally verified. The response is fast and reversible. Partial selectivity of the sensor is due to high proton or electron affinity of measured compounds.