Ethanol sensor by using the nickel foil electrode

A new ethanol sensor was developed by using nickel foil in alkaline solutio n as the electrode. The factors affecting the sensing and preparing of the electrode, such as pretreating time, pretreating HNO3 concentration, agitat ion rate and KOH concentration were explored. The optimal operating conditi on of preparing the electrode and sensing was 20 min pretreating time, 0.75 N pretreating HNO3 concentration, 560 mV set potential (vs, Ag/AECl), 0.4 N KOH electrolyte concentration and 560 rpm agitation rate. The results rev ealed that the prepared electrode resulted in a linear relationship between response current and ethanol concentration in the range of 0 to 1000 ppm e thanol concentration and a 3 months shelf-lift time at least. Additionally, the response lime and sensitivity are 20 s and 3.761 muA/ppm. respectively .