Amperometric sensing in the gas-phase

The design of amperometric sensors for gaseous species presents a challenge as the gas phase has to be brought into contact with a solid electrode as well as an electrolyte phase which usually is liquid. However, many species of analytical interest are electroactive, such as SO2, NOx, O3, CO, formaldehyde or ethanol, and electrochemical means are always attractive in designing sensors because the electronic signal is obtained directly. Therefore, different approaches have been implemented and some types of such sensors have been available commercially for quite some time. Nevertheless, many new developments with regard to an improvement of sensitivity, selectivity and in the construction of these devices have been reported over the last few years, as well as approaches to miniaturization. In this review it is attempted to give an overview of the state of the art of this field, highlighting recent developments.