In this review the basic principles of carbon dioxide sensors and their manifold applications in environmental control, biotechnology, biology, medicine and food industry are reported. Electrochemical CO2 sensors based on the Severinghaus principle and solid electrolyte sensors operating at high temperatures have been manufactured and widely applied already for a long time. Besides these, nowadays infrared, non-dispersive infrared and acoustic CO2 sensors, which use physical measuring methods, are being increasingly used in some fields of application. The advantages and drawbacks of the different sensor technologies are outlined. Electrochemical sensors for the CO2 measurement in aqueous media are pointed out in more detail because of their simple setup and the resulting low costs. A detailed knowledge of the basic detection principles and the windows for their applications is necessary to find an appropriate decision on the technology to be applied for measuring dissolved CO2. In particular the pH value and the composition of the analyte matrix exert important influence on the results of the measurements.

At first sight the problem of the iR drop and its compensation in electrochemical polarization measurements seems to have only minor significance, but it has actually troubled electrochemists and corrosion scientists for more than a hundred years. For reducing the iR drop in the electrochemical cell, its computation, experimental determination and numerical or automatic electronic compensation numerous scientific and experimental work has been carried out and appropriate suggestions were submitted. These efforts led to commercially available potentiostats with sophisticated facilities for automatic iR compensation. Nevertheless, to date these possibilities have been utilized with a certain hesitancy. Many users underestimate the iR drop, regarding it often merely as a marginal problem, which only has to be taken into account in experiments with very high currents or extremely low conductivity of the electrolyte. Furthermore, there are also doubts and prejudices regarding modern methods of iR compensation, resulting from previous unpleasant experiences or reports on failed experiments with inappropriate equipment or imperfect methods. Reduction or automatic compensation of the iR drop is necessary more frequently than generally assumed and also in most cases possible. On the other hand the application of the different methods is still not completely uncomplicated and requires special experimental experience and care. The aim of the present work is it therefore to give a comprehensive retrospective overview of the ohmic drop problem and the relevant activities to overcome it.

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A growing demand to monitor gaseous components in the environmental air, in traffic zones, and in chemical processes develops in the modern society for optimisation, safety and protection purposes. Especially the automotive traffic is a major source of exhaust gases. Solid electrolyte sensors meet future requirements concerning the response behaviour; the long‐term stability and the price that are connected with the application in on board exhaust measurement.

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