Study of response and recovery rate of YSZ-based electrochemical sensor by laser ablation method

Fast response rate is a desirable character of gas sensors to monitor kinds of environments. In order to improve the response and recovery rate of YSZ-based electrochemical oxygen sensors, the laser ablation method was used to modify surface of YSZ substrates, and the effect of triple phase boundary (TPB) was studied. Results have shown that the increment of the TPB density can substantially improve the response rate, especially at a relative low working temperature (500 °C), and the max increment that is 70% was realized. Meanwhile, the sensor exhibited good selectivity toward interferences of reducing gases at this relative low working temperature. The results had provided a convenient and steerable way to improve the response, recovery rate, and electrochemical catalytic activity of YSZ-based electrochemical devices at medium and low working temperature.