Importance

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Abstract

New oxygen ion conducting ceramic materials represented by the formulas Ni(Nb.sub.1-x M.sub.x).sub.2 O.sub.6-x and Ni.sub.2 (Nb.sub.1-x M.sub.x).sub.2 O.sub.7-x, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Zr.sup.+4, Ti.sup.+4, Sn.sup.+4, Sm.sup.+4, Hf.sup.+4 and Ce.sup.+4 and x is a value from 0 to 0.2, are disclosed. These materials, along with Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 in solid solution with Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, may be used in a sensor for determining the oxygen partial pressure of a first gas relative to the oxygen partial pressure of a second gas. The oxygen sensor includes a plurality of layers of the ceramic material and of layers of a porous metallic conductor are arranged to form a body having alternating ceramic and metallic layers, with first alternate ones of the metallic layers being exposed along one side of the body and second alternate ones of the metallic layers being exposed along an opposite side of the body. An electrode connects the first alternate metallic layers, and a second electrode connects the second alternate metallic layers. The device may also be used as a fuel cell, and a method of constructing the device is disclosed.

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First Claim