Electrochemical gas electrode

Claim 1

Improved electrochemical nitric oxide gas detection or gas separation cell comprising an anode, a cathode which is separated from the anode by an electrolyte, a cathode depolarizer and means for electrically connecting the anode and cathode, said anode being an improved electrochemical gas electrode consisting essentially of a cohesive, gas-permeable conductive mass having a thin, gas-permeable hydrophobic film bonded to its gas-contacting surface, the conductive mass consisting essentially of 8-75 weight % of silicon and 25-92 weight % of one or more metals selected from vanadium, chrominum, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel, said depolarizer selected so as to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode during cell operation that is sufficient to produce a measurable current response when nitric oxide gas is oxidized at the anode, said depolarizer being an electrolyte-soluble reducible permanganate or dichromate salt of an element of Group IA or Group IIA of the Periodic Chart of the Elements or a ceric salt, in contact with the cathode, and said electrolyte being an acid electrolyte.