Electrochemical sensing of ethylene employing a thin ionic-liquid layer

We introduce an electrochemical ethylene sensor that employs a thin layer of ionic liquid as electrolyte. Ethylene is oxidized in a potential window starting ∼600 mV before the onset of the gold working electrode oxidation, which inhibits the ethylene oxidation at high applied potential. The current amplitude and sensor response time depend on the ionic-liquid film thickness, relative humidity, and applied potential, in agreement with a theoretical model based on diffusion. A detection limit of 760 ppb and a linear response up to 10 ppm were achieved. As illustrated by the detection of ethylene, ionic liquids could serve as an alternative electrolyte for many electrochemical gas sensors that heretofore relied on a strongly acidic electrolyte.