Title: Exhaust gas sensor having porous, metal-impregnated ceramic element

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Abstract: An improved sensor having a ceramic element that undergoes a change in an electrical characteristic in response to a change in the partial pressure of oxygen in a mixture of gases to which the ceramic element is exposed. Sensors of this type are used to detect the air/fuel ratio of mixtures supplied to internal combustion engines. Prior art sensors are characterized by little change in their respective electrical characteristics at low operating temperatures. A charge transfer material, platinum or platinum/rhodium is applied to the ceramic element to facilitate or make possible the electron transfers required for sensor operation at low temperatures. Platinum/rhodium alloy is the currently preferred charge transfer material. This alloy, which preferably is 90% platinum and 10% rhodium, reduces the minimum temperature of operation for the sensor as taught herein, and it also substantially eliminates vaporization loss of the charge transfer material.


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