Conductive sensor systems and methods of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12480906-B2
Application number	US-202318476549-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2023
Priority date	Jun 25, 2020
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a sensor system including one or more sensors having a first container fluidly coupled to a second container, the second container being configured to receive a conductive media from the first container. A first movable element is slidingly engaged with the first container to cause the second container to receive the conductive media from the first container. A first electrode is positioned in the first cavity and electrically coupled to the conductive media. In some examples, a second electrode is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the conductive media. The sensor deposits the conductive media on a working electrode to form an electrochemical cell and obtain one or more material properties of the working electrode. In some examples, the sensor system includes an array of sensors which deposit the conducive media in multiple locations on a working electrode to generate a material property map.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of testing, comprising:
positioning a sensor system relative to a working electrode; depositing, via the sensor system, a conductive media on the working electrode, wherein the conductive media comprises a first element comprising a conductive element comprising a plurality of metallic nanoparticles or a plurality of polymer nanoparticles, and a second element, wherein the first element is present as a colloidal suspension with the second element, wherein the conductive media is electrically coupled to at least one electrode of the sensor system, wherein the conductive media electrically couples the working electrode to the sensor system; and performing a test on the working electrode, wherein performing the test comprises:
generating, via a power supply, a current through the sensor system and the working electrode; and
receiving, in response to the generating of the current, at least one output, wherein the at least one output indicates an electrochemical property of the working electrode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a map of a portion of the working electrode, the sensor system having a plurality of sensors, the forming of the map comprising:
prior to generating the current, positioning the plurality of sensors in a plurality of locations along at least one surface of the working electrode; and
depositing the conductive media on the plurality of locations to electrically couple each sensor of the plurality of sensors to the working electrode.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the working electrode comprises a three-dimensional component including a plurality of surfaces such that at least one sensor of the sensor system is positioned inside of the working electrode, and wherein the depositing of the conductive media causes the conductive media to contact two or more surfaces of the plurality of surfaces.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising pulsing the current through the sensor system and the working electrode.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the test comprises cyclic voltammetry.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the test comprises potentiodynamic scanning.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the test comprises chronoamperometry.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the test comprises pulse voltammetry.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the test comprises corrosion detection.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the test comprises electrochemical polymerization.

11 . A method of testing, comprising:
positioning a sensor system relative to a working electrode, the sensor system comprising:
a sensor body having a first container and a second container, the first container having a first inside surface defining a first cavity, the second container having a second inside surface defining a second cavity, and the first container being fluidly coupled to the second container;
a first electrode positioned in the first cavity, the first electrode being electrically coupled to a conductive media having a water content of about 20 wt. % to about 45 wt. %, wherein the conductive media comprises:
a first element comprising a conductive element comprising a plurality of metallic nanoparticles or a plurality of polymer nanoparticles; and
a second element, wherein the first element is present as a colloidal suspension with the second element; and

a first movable element positioned in the first cavity, the first movable element being slidingly engaged with the first inside surface of the first container and configured to cause the second container to receive the conductive media from the first container;
depositing, via the sensor system, the conductive media on the working electrode, wherein the conductive media is electrically coupled to at least one electrode of the sensor system, wherein the conductive media electrically couples the working electrode to the sensor system; and performing a test on the working electrode, wherein performing the test comprises:
generating, via a power supply, a current through the sensor system and the working electrode; and
receiving, in response to the generating of the current, at least one output, wherein the at least one output indicates an electrochemical property of the working electrode.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
forming a map of a portion of the working electrode, the sensor system having a plurality of sensors, the forming of the map comprising:
prior to generating the current, positioning the plurality of sensors in a plurality of locations along at least one surface of the working electrode; and
depositing the conductive media on the plurality of locations to electrically couple each sensor of the plurality of sensors to the working electrode.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the working electrode comprises a three-dimensional component including a plurality of surfaces such that at least one sensor of the sensor system is positioned inside of the working electrode, and wherein the depositing of the conductive media causes the conductive media to contact two or more surfaces of the plurality of surfaces.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising pulsing the current through the sensor system and the working electrode.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the test comprises cyclic voltammetry.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the test comprises potentiodynamic scanning.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the test comprises chronoamperometry.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the test comprises pulse voltammetry.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the test comprises corrosion detection.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the test comprises electrochemical polymerization.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Kinlen Patrick J

Classifications

• G01N33/0096

  Testing material properties on thin layers or coatings · CPC title

• G01N33/208

  Coatings, e.g. platings · CPC title

• G01N27/42

  Measuring deposition or liberation of materials from an electrolyte; Coulometry, i.e. measuring coulomb-equivalent of material in an electrolyte · CPC title

• G01N27/02

  by investigating impedance · CPC title

• G01N17/02

  Electrochemical measuring systems for weathering, corrosion or corrosion-protection measurement · CPC title