Methods and devices for detecting unsaturated compounds

Abstract

Embodiments provide a method for detecting an unsaturated compound, the method comprising monitoring change in electrical properties of substances such as halides of copper that reacts or interacts with unsaturated compounds such as acetylene. Other embodiments provide a sensor for detecting acetylene gas comprising a substrate having a surface, electrodes in electrical communication with said surface, and a sensor layer formed of metal halide.

1 . A method for detecting an unsaturated compound, the method comprising:
 monitoring change in electrical properties of a cuprous halide as the cuprous halide interacts with an unsaturated compound selected from the group consisting of alkynes and alkenes.   
     
     
         2 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , where the unsaturated hydrocarbon is acetylene. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , where the unsaturated hydrocarbon is ethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising contacting the unsaturated compound with a cuprous halide to thereby cause a reaction or interaction that results in a change in electrical properties of the cuprous halide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of placing the cuprous halide into an environment where the cuprous halide can react or interact with an unsaturated compound. 
     
     
         13 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , where the change in electrical properties results from π bonding between the unsaturated compound and the cuprous halide. 
     
     
         22 . A method for detecting an unsaturated compound, the method comprising:
 (i) placing a sensor in an environment having the potential for unsaturated compounds, where the sensor includes a cuprous halide deposited on a substrate and an electrical detection device in electrical communication with the cuprous halide; and   (ii) monitoring the change in electrical properties of the cuprous halide via the electrical detection device to thereby determine the presence of unsaturated compounds, where the unsaturated compounds are selected from the group consisting of alkynes and alkenes.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , where said step of placing the sensor in an environment includes placing the sensor in contact with fluids contained within a power transformer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , where the unsaturated hydrocarbon is acetylene. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , where the unsaturated hydrocarbon is ethylene. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , where the cuprous halide is selected from the group consisting of cuprous chloride and cuprous bromide. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , where the cuprous halide is cuprous chloride. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , where the cuprous halide is selected from the group consisting of cuprous chloride and cuprous bromide. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , where the cuprous halide is cuprous chloride. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , where the sensor further includes a protective layer that is permeable to the unsaturated compounds. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , where the protective layer is impermeable or substantially impermeable to water. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , where the protective layer is impermeable or substantially impermeable to organic molecules that are larger than the unsaturated compounds.