Electrochemical measurements of components in coatings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11796500-B2
Application number	US-202117160061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2021
Priority date	Jul 23, 2018
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of measuring moisture. Specifically, methods of measuring moisture on dry or nearly dry surfaces using an electrochemical sensor are disclosed. The method comprises applying a coating comprising an electrolyte to an electrode wherein water in the air can permeate the coating, applying a voltage to the electrode, detecting a current and, determining if the current indicates the presence of moisture. As a voltage is applied, oxygen in the water is reduced and produces a measurable signal. The method includes measuring the amount of or decrease of dissolved oxygen (in the form of water) at the surface of the electrode over time. Reduction of oxygen acts as a surrogate for water/moisture and, as such, the dryness of the surface of the electrode is calculated based on a predetermined relationship between current and dissolved oxygen (in the form of water).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of attracting water to a working electrode, the method comprising:
coating a surface of a substrate with at least one working electrode, wherein the at least one working electrode is coated with an electrolyte;
applying a voltage between a counter electrode and the at least one working electrode to cause water in a liquid to diffuse to a surface of the at least one electrode; and
transmitting an electrical current to at least one device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising conveying the liquid through a line system to supply a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises the at least one working electrode coated with the electrolyte and the counter electrode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein water-permeable paths extend from the at least one working electrode to a sensor element.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a natural gas stream.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting separated water in a collecting space below or next to the at least one working electrode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one working electrode is coated with components that attract water.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltage is between 0.1V and 10V.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises the at least one working electrode on a printed circuit board (PCB).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device is selected from a group consisting of: a display device, a recording device, an alarm device, and a compensating device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one working electrode and the counter electrode are disposed adjacent to each other, with a gap therebetween of less than or equal to about 0.2 inches.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises an electrode formed from a material comprising gold, platinum, palladium, silver, silver-silver chloride, carbon, and mixtures thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water is in a volume of 1 to 10 μL.

13. A method of attracting water to a working electrode, the method comprising:
coating a surface of a substrate with at least one working electrode, wherein the at least one working electrode is coated with an electrolyte;
applying a voltage between a counter electrode and the at least one working electrode to cause atmospheric water to radially diffuse to a surface of the at least one electrode; and
collecting separated water in a collecting space below or next to the at least one working electrode.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein a relative humidity in the atmosphere is between 55% and 1%.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the electrolyte is made of hydrophilic material.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one working electrode is located below a surface of a layered structure.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein an analyte is oxidized or reduced on the surface of the at least one working electrode.

18. A method of removing water from an environment, the method comprising:
coating a surface of a substrate with at least one working electrode, wherein the at least one working electrode is coated with an electrolyte; and
applying a voltage between a counter electrode and the at least one working electrode to cause atmospheric water to radially diffuse to the surface of the at least one electrode; and
collecting separated water in a collecting space below or next to the at least one working electrode.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one working electrode is coated with components that attract water.

Assignees

• Roche Molecular Systems Inc

Inventors

• Uhegbu Christopher E

Classifications

• G01N27/3277 Primary

  being a redox reaction, e.g. detection by cyclic voltammetry (voltammetry per se G01N27/42, G01N27/48) · CPC title

• B01L3/502707

  characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components · CPC title

• B01L3/502792

  for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension · CPC title

• C12Q1/6825

  Nucleic acid detection involving sensors · CPC title

• F26B5/16

  by contact with sorbent bodies, e.g. absorbent mould; by admixture with sorbent materials · CPC title