Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Paul C Kikuchi

Frederick L Kennard

Ralph V Wilhelm, Jr

Terry J Gold

Morris Berg

Slater William Hawes

A method of sputtering a palladium or palladium-platinum exhaust gas electrode onto a vitrified zirconia thimble for an electrochemical-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor. Porous high surface area films are deposited that have more consistent properties. A sputtering target is spaced about 3.0-4.5 cm from the thimble and more than 6 cm from the sputtering anode. A pressure of about 10-20 millitorr is used during sputtering at a DC power of about 13-22 watts/cm.sup.2 of target area.

Exhaust electrode process for exhaust gas oxygen sensor

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of making a solid electrolyte electrochemical-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor. A platinum exhaust electrode is sputtered onto a zirconia body and the body then heated in nitrogen at 700.degree.-900.degree. C. for at least 30 minutes to reduce rich-to-lean switching time response.

Aging treatment for exhaust gas oxygen sensor

A method of sputtering a platinum exhaust gas electrode onto a vitrified zirconia thimble for an electrochemical-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor. Porous high surface area platinum films are deposited that have more consistent properties. A platinum target is spaced about 3.0-4.5 cm from the thimble and more than 6 cm from the sputtering anode. A pressure of about 10-20 millitorr is used during sputtering at a DC power of about 13-22 watts/cm.sup.2 of target area.

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Flint, MI, United States of America

Paul C Kikuchi