In the EC/IR II, what is the fuel cell coated with?

In the EC/IR II, what is the fuel cell coated with?

• A. Gold
• B. Platinum Black
• C. Platinum
• D. Silver

Answer: (B)

The fuel cell in the EC/IR II relies on a catalytic surface to efficiently oxidize ethanol from the breath and generate a current proportional to alcohol content. That catalytic coating is platinum black, a finely dispersed form of platinum that provides a very large surface area. The high surface area speeds up the electrochemical reaction at the electrode, improving sensitivity and response at the low ethanol concentrations typical of breath samples. Gold or silver aren’t used as the active catalyst for this sensor, and while platinum is the active metal, the coating specifically used to maximize performance is platinum black. That’s why platinum black is the correct answer.

The fuel cell in the EC/IR II relies on a catalytic surface to efficiently oxidize ethanol from the breath and generate a current proportional to alcohol content. That catalytic coating is platinum black, a finely dispersed form of platinum that provides a very large surface area. The high surface area speeds up the electrochemical reaction at the electrode, improving sensitivity and response at the low ethanol concentrations typical of breath samples. Gold or silver aren’t used as the active catalyst for this sensor, and while platinum is the active metal, the coating specifically used to maximize performance is platinum black. That’s why platinum black is the correct answer.