what are electrochemical sensors

Electrochemical sensors are a type of chemical sensor that use an electrode as a transducer element in the presence of an analyte. They are used to measure the concentration of a specific gas in an environment by reacting with the gas of interest and producing an electrical signal proportional to the gas concentration. Electrochemical sensors are made up of three essential components: a receptor that binds the sample, the sample or analyte, and a transducer to convert the reaction into a measurable electrical signal. The electrode acts as the transducer in electrochemical sensors, and in most cases, an electrode surface is used as the site of the reaction. The electrode will either oxidize or reduce the analyte of interest, and the current produced from the reaction is monitored and used to calculate important data such as concentrations from the sample. Electrochemical sensors can be constructed differently depending on the application, and therefore, provide tailored solutions to new emerging applications. Electrochemical sensors are very accurate and can measure oxygen levels down to the parts-per-million (ppm) level, making them a vital sensing technology for many different industries, including hospitals, factories, and environmental monitoring. Some advantages of electrochemical sensors include their accuracy, stability over time, and low maintenance requirements.