EP1728071A1

EP1728071A1 - Sensor element

Info

Publication number: EP1728071A1
Application number: EP05707980A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reiner Schmitt; Thomas Wahl; Harald Guenschel; Harry Braun; Andy Tiefenbach; Ulrich Eisele; Lothar Diehl; Thomas Moser; Stefan Rodewald; Dieter Lindauer; Jürgen Sindel; Dirk Rady; Frank Buchholz
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2004-03-19
Filing date: 2005-02-09
Publication date: 2006-12-06
Also published as: WO2005090955A1; JP4575433B2; US20080289961A1; DE102004013545A1; JP2007529726A

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor element (10) serving, in particular, for detecting a gas component in a test gas, preferably for determining the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The sensor element (10) comprises a strip conductor (101), which is applied to a solid electrolyte (21, 22) and which has an electrode (101a) provided in a measuring area (11) of the sensor element (10), and an electrode supply (101b) leading to the electrode (101a) and being situated in a supply area (12) of the sensor element (10). A heating element (51) is provided for heating the measuring area (11) of the sensor element (10). The strip conductor (101) comprises a narrowing (60) in a transition area (13) between the measuring area (11) and the supply area (12). In addition, the electrode (101a) comprises a first electrode section (81) and a second electrode section (82). The first electrode section (81) is, in a transition area (13) between the measuring area (11) and the supply area (12), connected to the electrode supply (101b), and the first and second electrode sections (81, 82) are electrically connected to one another only on their sides situated opposite the supply area (12).

Description

sensor element

State of the art

The invention is based on a sensor element according to the preamble of the independent claims.

Such a sensor element is known for example from DE 100 13 882 AI. The planar sensor element is constructed in layer form using screen printing technology and contains a measuring gas space in which two ring-shaped electrodes are arranged on opposite sides. The two electrodes are each part of an electrochemical cell, which each includes a further electrode and a solid electrolyte arranged between the electrodes. The two electrodes located in the sample gas chamber are connected to a sample gas located outside the sensor element via an annular diffusion barrier and a gas access opening. One of the two electrochemical cells is operated as a Nernst cell, in which a voltage (Nemst voltage) forms between the electrode in the sample gas space and the further electrode exposed to a reference gas, which voltage is a measure of the ratio of the oxygen pressure at the electrode in the sample gas space and at the the electrode exposed to the reference gas. The other of the two electrochemical cells serves as a pump cell, through which oxygen is pumped into the sample gas space or out of the sample gas space in such a way that an oxygen pressure of λ = 1 is present in the sample gas space.

The electrodes are arranged at the measuring-side end of the sensor element, that is to say in the measuring area of the sensor element, and are connected by means of leads to contact surfaces, via which the sensor element is connected to an evaluation circuit arranged outside the sensor element connected is. The contact surfaces are applied to the outer surfaces of the sensor element at the connection-side end of the sensor element, that is to say in a contact area. The lead area, in which the leads to the electrodes are arranged, is provided between the measuring area and the contacting area. The electrode, the lead and the contact area together form a conductor track.

The electrochemical cells in the measuring area of the sensor element are heated by a heating element to a temperature at which the solid electrolyte has a sufficiently good conductivity for oxygen ions.

With such a sensor element, it is disadvantageous that heat is dissipated from the measuring range of the sensor element via the conductor track, in particular via the electrode feed line. As a result of the heat flow from the measuring range, the heating element must be operated at a high power in order to heat the measuring range of the sensor element to the required temperature. On the other hand, the sensor element is also heated in the supply area and in the contacting area, so that the oxygen ion conductivity of the solid electrolyte increases in the supply and contacting area, as a result of which the measurement signal can be impaired. Due to the heat flow from the measuring area, a temperature gradient is also formed in the electrode surface, as a result of which the function of the electrode and thus ultimately the measuring function of the sensor element is impaired.

It is also known to provide conductor tracks with open porosity, so that so-called three-phase boundaries form at the electrodes, at which an oxygen transfer between gas and solid electrolyte is possible. If the conductor track has an electrode arranged in the measuring gas space, and the conductor track is supplied in connection with the reference gas, it is disadvantageous that the reference gas containing a high proportion of oxygen can reach the measuring gas space via the interconnected pores (open porosity) of the conductor track. Since the oxygen partial pressure in the area of the electrode is thus changed, the measurement signal is falsified. Advantages of the invention

The sensor element according to the invention with the characterizing features of the independent claims has the advantage that the heat conduction from the measuring area along the conductor track is reduced and that the electrode has a largely constant temperature over its surface.

For this purpose, the conductor track has at least one constriction, which is designed in such a way that the heat conduction along the longitudinal direction of the conductor track is reduced from the measurement area into the supply area. The constriction is provided in a transition area between the measuring area and the supply area. The narrowing can be implemented as a constriction and / or by means of one or more recesses.

In the area of the constriction, the conductor track has a smaller cross-sectional area than in the areas of the conductor track adjacent to the constriction. The regions adjacent to the constriction are to be understood both as the region that follows the constriction in the direction of the measuring region and the region that follows the constriction in the direction of the supply region. If the cross-sectional area were to be plotted along the longitudinal extent of the conductor track, the resulting function would have a minimum in the area of the narrowing. The cross-sectional area is to be understood as the area of the conductor track in a plane that is perpendicular to the thermal gradient that is formed in the conductor track by heating the measuring area. The thermal gradient is usually parallel to the longitudinal extent of the conductor track.

The measures listed in the dependent claims are advantageous

Further developments of the sensor elements mentioned in the independent claims are possible.

The cross-sectional area in the area of the constriction is preferably at most 70 percent, in particular at most 50 percent, of the cross-sectional area of the conductor track in an area adjacent to the constriction. This reduces the area through which the

Heat can flow from the measuring area into the supply area.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the narrowing is carried out by at least one slot-shaped recess, which is a longer and a shorter one Has side, the longer side is arranged approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the conductor track.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, several cutouts are provided in the area of the narrowing of the conductor track, through which a net-like structure is formed in the conductor track. The cutouts are particularly advantageously offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conductor track.

In a further alternative embodiment, the narrowing is designed as a constriction of the conductor track, so that the width of the conductor track in the region of the constriction is smaller than the width of the conductor track in the regions adjacent to the constriction.

The width of the conductor track in the region of the constriction is particularly preferably at most 70 percent, in particular at most 50 percent, of the width of the conductor path in the regions adjacent to the constriction.

Due to the above-mentioned embodiments, the heat conduction from the measuring range in the

Supply area effectively reduced.

In addition, the conductor track is particularly advantageously used for shielding, for example, high-resistance terminated electrodes such as a reference electrode. For this purpose, the conductor track is arranged in such a way that it absorbs fault currents and / or shields electrical couplings that can emanate, for example, from the heater. A wide conductor path is required for effective shielding. However, widening a conductor track also increases its cross-sectional area. Large cross-sectional areas result in undesirably high heat conduction. According to the invention, recesses are therefore provided in order to implement a wide conductor track with a comparatively small cross-sectional area. The width b of the conductor track is to be understood as the extent of the conductor track in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal extent and parallel to the large area of the sensor element. The width b denotes the distance of the boundary of the conductor track in the direction mentioned and is therefore the same for a conductor track with or without cutouts with an identical outer contour. In contrast, the cross-sectional area A is reduced by introducing cutouts. Since the cutouts have only a minor influence on the quality of the shielding, the shielding of a conductor track with cutouts (with the same width b) is comparable to a conductor track without cutouts. But since the introduction of Recesses the cross-sectional area A significantly reduced, the heat conduction with a conductor track with recesses is significantly less than with a conductor track without recesses. In the area of the cutout, the ratio A / b <0.1 mm, preferably A / b <0.02 mm, is advantageously fulfilled, with which good shielding with low heat conduction can be achieved.

The ratio b / c <0.8, preferably b / c <0.5, is likewise advantageously fulfilled, where b in turn indicates the (total) width of the conductor track, while c denotes the sum of the widths of the individual sections of the conductor track, which are interrupted by the recess or recesses. The height of the conductor track is advantageous

Extension of the conductor track in the direction perpendicular to the large area of the sensor element, in the range from 4 to 20 μm, preferably in the range from 5 to 10 μm.

In the conductor track according to the invention with a narrowing it is also advantageous that gas diffusion along the conductor track is reduced. Reference gas can penetrate into the sample gas space through a conductor path with open porosity, which leads to a falsification of the measurement signal. Due to the narrowing, the conductor cross-section is reduced and the gas flow through the conductor is restricted. The conductor track particularly advantageously includes an area in which the gas diffusion per unit area is additionally significantly restricted or completely prevented, for example by providing a structure with closed pores or pores in this area. This measure can effectively prevent a gas with a high oxygen content from reaching the connection-side end section of the sensor element via the conductor path into the measurement gas space. ^" Usually, the conductor track contains a metallic component, for example platinum, and a ceramic component, for example zirconium oxide stabilized with yttrium oxide. By reducing the ceramic component, the pore fraction is reduced or an area with closed porosity is provided. The region of the conductor track in which the gas diffusion occurs is clearly restricted or completely prevented, is advantageously provided directly adjacent to the measuring gas space and is short in relation to the total length of the conductor track.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, which can also be implemented independently of the aforementioned measures, the electrode lying completely in the measuring range has a first and a second electrode section, the first electronic the portion in the transition area between the measuring area and the lead area is electrically contacted with the electrode lead, and wherein the second electrode section and the first electrode section are electrically connected to one another only on their sides facing away from the lead area. With such an arrangement, the heat flow from the second electrode section to the supply of the conductor track can only take place via the first electrode section. This reduces the heat flow, in particular from the second electrode section into the feed line, without the measurement function of the electrode being impaired (for example by reducing the area of the electrode).

Further advantages of the invention result from the following description.

drawing

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description. Figure 1 shows a sensor element according to the invention in longitudinal section, Figure 2 shows heating power and temperature distribution along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensor element, Figure 3 shows the sensor element according to the invention in cross section along the line DI - III in Figure 1, Figure 4 shows one

From a guide of a conductor track of the sensor element according to the invention in supervision, FIG. 5 shows the conductor track in a sectional view according to line V - V in FIG. 4, and FIGS. 6 to 11 show further embodiments of a conductor track of the sensor element according to the invention in supervision.

description

FIGS. 1 and 3 show, as an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a sensor element 10 with a first solid electrolyte layer 21, a second solid electrolyte layer 22 and a third

Solid electrolyte layer 23. Between the first and the second solid electrolyte layers 21, 22 there is a hollow cylindrical measuring gas space 41, in the middle of which a hollow cylindrical diffusion barrier 42 is arranged. A gas inlet opening 43 is introduced into the first solid electrolyte layer 21, through which the one located outside the sensor element 10 Sample gas can reach the sample gas space 41 via the diffusion barrier 42. The measuring gas chamber 41 is surrounded by a sealing frame 47, by means of which the measuring gas chamber 41 is sealed laterally in a gas-tight manner.

The sensor element 10 has a heated measuring area 11 and a supply area 12. The area between the measuring area 11 and the supply area 12 is referred to as the transition area 13. The heating of the measuring area 11 by a heating element 51 is described in more detail below (see FIG. 2).

On the side of the first solid electrolyte layer 21 that forms an outer surface of the sensor element 10, a first conductor track 31 is arranged, which comprises a first electrode 31a and a first lead 31b to the first electrode 31a. The first conductor track 31 is covered with a porous protective layer 46. An electrically insulating insulation layer 45 is also provided between the first feed line 3 lb and the first solid electrolyte layer 21.

A second conductor track 32 is applied between the first and the second solid electrolyte layer 21, 22, which comprises a second electrode 32a arranged in the measurement gas space 41 and a second feed line 32b. The second electrode 32a is applied to the first electrode 31a opposite to the first solid electrolyte layer 21 on the first solid electrolyte layer 21 facing side of the second solid electrolyte layer 22 is a third conductor 33 is ngeordnet comprising a third electrode 33a and a third feed line ^"33b. The third electrode 33a is arranged in the measurement gas space 41 opposite the second electrode 32a. The second electrode 32a is electrically connected to the third lead 33b through a bushing 39. The bushing 39 can also be provided laterally next to the sectional plane shown in FIG. 1, so that a fourth electrode 34a, which is described in more detail below, can be arranged closer to the measuring gas space 41 and to the second and third electrodes 32a, 33a. The first, second and third electrodes 31a, 32a, 33a are each designed in a ring. The diffusion barrier 42 and the gas access opening 43 lie in the middle of the annular electrodes 31a, 32a, 33a.

A fourth conductor track 34 with the fourth electrode 34a and a fourth lead 34b is arranged on the first solid electrolyte layer 21 adjacent to the second electrode 32a. The fourth electrode 34a is exposed to a reference gas. The reference gas can be present, for example, in the porous fourth conductor track 34 and / or in a porous insulation layer 44. which is provided in the supply area 12 between the third conductor track 33 and the fourth conductor track 34.

Through the leads 31b, 33b, 34b, the electrodes 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a are each electrically connected to contact surfaces (not shown), which is provided on the side of the sensor element 10 facing away from the measuring region 11. The contact areas are each connected to contacting elements, via which the measurement signals are routed to external electronics (likewise not shown). Since the lead 32b of the second electrode 32a is electrically connected to the third lead 33b via the feedthrough 39, the second and third electrodes 32a, 33a have a common lead 33b in some areas.

A heating element 51 is arranged between the second solid electrolyte layer 22 and a third solid electrolyte layer 23, which comprises a heater 51a and a heater feed line 51b. The heating element 51 is embedded in a heater insulation 52, by means of which the heating element 51 is electrically insulated from the surrounding solid electrolyte layers 22, 23. The heating element 51 and the heater insulation 52 are laterally surrounded by a heater sealing frame 53.

FIG. 2 shows schematically with curve 201 the heating power 51 emitted in the layer plane of the heating element 51 and with curve 202 which changes due to the heating of the

Sensor element 10 is shown in the layer plane between the first and the second solid electrolyte layer 21, 22 forming temperature profile. The abscissa of FIG. 2 shows the location along the longitudinal extent of sensor element 10 according to FIG. 1, the zero point of the abscissa being at the end of sensor element 10 on the measurement gas side. The heater 51a emits an almost constant heating output over its entire surface, while the heating element 51 emits almost no heat in the region of its heater supply line 51b. The heater 51a heats the second and third electrodes 32a, 33a (just like the first electrode 31a) as well as the diffusion barrier 42 and the solid electrolyte layers 21, 22 in the measuring area 11 to an almost constant temperature. The temperature of the sensor element 10 falls between the transition areas 13 the measuring range 11 and the

Supply area 12 strongly. The transition region 13 is thus formed by the region in which a high temperature gradient occurs in a heated sensor element 10. FIG. 4 shows, as a first embodiment of the invention, a conductor track 101 which comprises an electrode 101a and a feed line 101b, the electrode 101a being arranged in the measuring area 11 and the feed line 101b in the feed area 12 of the sensor element 10. The supply line 101b is widened on its side facing the electrode 101a, that is to say in the transition region 13, and has a constriction 60 with recesses 61 in this region 13, which form a network-like structure. The cutouts 61 are arranged offset from one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conductor track 101 and thus also with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sensor element 10. The recesses 61 reduce the heat flow from the electrode 101a, which is heated by the heater 51a, into the feed line 101b, that is to say from the measuring area 11 into the feed area 12 of the sensor element 10.

Through the cutouts 61, the conductor track 101 is divided into mutually separate conductor track sections 105 in the plane represented by the line V - V in FIG. The distance between two adjacent cutouts 61 is approximately 200 μm; in general, a range from 100 μm to 400 μm has proven suitable for the distance between two recesses 61. FIG. 5 shows a section through the conductor track 101 in the region of the constriction 60 along the line V - V in FIG. 4. The total width of the conductor track 101 along this section line is identified by b and is, for example, approximately 3.0 mm. Along this section line, the conductor track 101 has five conductor track sections 105, each of which has a width ci to c ₅ . The sum c of the widths of the individual sections

(ie Ci = c + c ₂ + c ₃ + c ₄ + it) is located at 1, 5 to 2.0 mm and b at about 50-66 * ^'per cent of the overall width. With a layer thickness h of, for example, 10 μm, the partial sections in the sectional plane shown in FIG. 14b have a total cross section A of 0.015 to 0.02 mm ² , where A = h (Ci + c ₂ + c ₃ + c ₄ + es).

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the invention, in which the narrowing 60 of the conductor track 101 is realized by slot-shaped cutouts 62. The slot-shaped recesses 62 extend in the layer plane of the conductor track 101 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sensor element 10. The width of the recesses 62 is 60 to 80 percent of the total width of the conductor track 101.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention, in which, similarly to the second embodiment according to FIG. 6, 60-shaped recesses 62 are provided in the conductor track 101 as a narrowing. The third embodiment differs from that second embodiment by a diffusion-inhibiting section 71, which directly adjoins the electrode 101a and is provided between the electrode 101a and the feed line 101b containing the recesses 62. The diffusion-inhibiting section 71 has a pore content of 4 to 5 percent by volume and a closed porosity, the electrode 101a and the feed line 101b have a pore fraction of 20 to 30 percent by volume and an open porosity. The ceramic portion of the diffusion-inhibiting section 71 is 20 volume percent, the ceramic portion of the electrode 101a and the lead 101b is 30 volume percent.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, in which the conductor track 101 has a constriction 60 which is designed as a constriction 63. In contrast to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 4 to 7, the narrowing is therefore not realized by one or more recesses 61, 62 provided within the conductor track 101, but by reducing the overall width of the conductor track 101. The width of the conductor track 101 in the area of the constriction 63 is approximately 40 percent of the width of the conductor track 101 in the areas adjacent to the constriction 63.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fifth and a sixth embodiment of the invention which, like the fourth embodiment according to FIG. 8, have a constriction 63. The fifth and sixth embodiment of the invention differs from the embodiments according to FIGS. 4 to 8 by the configuration of the electrode 101a, which has a first section 81 and a second section 82. The first section 81 of the electrode 101a is electrically connected to the supply line 101b in the transition area 13. The first section 81 extends from the supply line 101b over the area of the gas access opening 43 in the direction of the measuring end of the sensor element. The second

Section 82 of the electrode 101a is designed in a ring shape and is electrically connected on its side facing away from the lead area 12 to the first section 81 in the area designated by the reference number 85 in FIGS. 9 and 10. On its side facing the supply area 12, the second section 82 has a cutout 83 in which the first section 81 is arranged. The first section 81 and the second

Sections 82 are spaced apart on their sides facing the feed area 12 and are not electrically connected. The fifth and the sixth embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 9 and 10 differ in the design of the first section 81, which in FIG. 9 is embodied as a straight conductor track which has a cutout for the gas inlet opening 43, the diameter of this cutout being the same as the diameter corresponds to the gas inlet opening. In the sixth embodiment according to FIG. 10, the first section 81 has an annular recess surrounding the gas inlet opening 43, the inner diameter of the annular recess being larger than the diameter of the gas inlet opening.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 4 to 7, the conductor track 101 has a comparatively wide cross section in the transition region 13, which is interrupted by cutouts 61, 62. The conductor track 101, which is wide in the transition region 13, acts as a shield against electrical coupling. Electrical couplings are shielded particularly effectively if the largest dimension of the recesses 61, 62 is smaller than the shortest distance between the conductor track 101 provided with the recesses 61, 62 and the electrically scattering conductor track (such as the heater 51a).

The embodiments according to FIGS. 4 to 7 are particularly well suited for the third conductor track 33 in the sensor element 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In contrast, the embodiments according to FIGS. 8 to 10 are particularly well suited for the first conductor track 31 of the latter Sensor elements 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The embodiments of the conductor track 101 shown in FIGS. 4 to 10 can, however, be used independently of the particular advantages described because of the reduced heat conduction and gas diffusion for flexible conductor tracks in planar exhaust gas sensors.

FIG. 11 shows, as a seventh embodiment of the invention, a top view of the second solid electrolyte layer 22 of the sensor element 10 according to FIGS. 1 and 3 and the third conductor track 33 with the third electrode 33a and the third feed line 33b. The dashed line also shows the projection of the fourth conductor track 34 with the fourth electrode 34a and the fourth lead 34b onto the plane of the drawing. The third conductor track 33 has a narrowing 60 in the transition region 13 with a lattice-like structure 91, which is implemented similarly to FIG. 4, but with thinner conductor track sections. The lattice-like structure 91 is interrupted by a strip 92 designed as a solid surface, which runs along the projection of the contour of the fourth conductor track 34 onto the layer plane of the third conductor track 33. The strip 92 has a width of at least 0.5 mm. In addition, it can be provided that the Strip 92 in the area of the corners 95 of the fourth electrode 34a forms an enlarged, for example circular, full surface (not shown) compared to the strip 92, the projection of a corner 95 of the fourth electrode 34a onto the layer plane of the third conductor 33 forming the center of the circular solid surface , The full-area strip 92 prevents arcing between the fourth conductor track 34 and the third conductor track 33 through the insulation layer 44. Such flashovers preferably occur at high field strengths, which are formed, for example, at the edges of the fourth electrode 34a, in particular at the corners 95 thereof. The strips 92 oppose the edges of the fourth electrode 34a with a solid surface on which comparatively low field strengths are formed. This measure reduces the likelihood of rollovers due to the insulation layer 44.

Claims

Expectations

1. Sensor element (10), in particular for detecting a gas component in a measuring gas, preferably for determining the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, with a conductor track (101) applied to a solid electrolyte (21, 22), which is in a Measuring area (11) of the sensor element (10) includes an electrode (101a) and an electrode lead (101b) leading to the electrode (101a) and arranged in a lead area (12) of the sensor element (10), a heating element (51) for heating the Measuring area (11) of the sensor element (10) is provided, characterized in that the conductor track (101) has a constriction (60) in a transition area (13) between the measuring area (11) and the supply area (12).

2. Sensor element according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductor track (101) in the region of the constriction (60) has a smaller cross-sectional area than in the region of the conductor path (101) adjacent to the constriction (60).

3. Sensor element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heat conduction along the conductor track (101) from the measuring area (11) into the supply area (12) is reduced by the narrowing (60).

4. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the conductor track (101) in the region of the constriction (60) is at most 70 percent, in particular at most 50 percent, of the cross-sectional area of the conductor track (101) in one of the constriction (60) adjacent area of the conductor track (101), the cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to that which is formed in the conductor track (101) when the measuring area (11) is heated Thermal gradient.

5. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the constriction (60) the ratio A / b <0.1 mm, preferably A / b <0.02 mm, is fulfilled, where A is the cross-sectional area of the conductor track (101) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sensor element (10), and where b is the width of the conductor track (101), that is to say the extent of the conductor track (101) in this plane in a direction parallel to the large area of the sensor element (10), designated.

6. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the narrowing (60) of the conductor track (101) comprises at least one recess (61, 62).

7. Sensor element according to claim 6, characterized in that the recess (62) is scrditzfδrmig and has a longer and a shorter side, the longer side of the recess (62) approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the conductor track (101) and / or approximately perpendicular to the heat gradient which is formed in the conductor track (101) due to the heating of the measuring area (11).

8. Sensor element according to claim 6, characterized in that the section of the conductor track (101) has a plurality of recesses (61) and dSss the conductor track (101) has a network-like structure in the region of the recesses (61)

9. Sensor element according to claim 8, characterized in that the recesses (61) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conductor track (101) are arranged offset from one another.

10. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the constriction (60) the ratio b / c <0.8, preferably b / c <0.5, where b is the width of the conductor track (101) , i.e. the extent of the conductor track (101) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the conductor track (101) and parallel to the large area of the sensor element (10), and where c is the sum of the widths of the individual conductor track sections (61, 62) separated by recesses (61, 62) 105).

11. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the constriction (60) is designed as a constriction (63), the width of the conductor track (101) in the region of the constriction (63) being smaller than in that of the constriction (63 ) adjacent areas of the conductor track (101).

12. Sensor element according to claim 11, characterized in that the width of the conductor track (101) in the region of the constriction (63) is at most 70 percent, in particular at most 50 percent, the width of the conductor track (101) in an adjacent to the constriction (63) Area of the conductor track (101).

13. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor track (101) is arranged in a layer plane between a first solid electrolyte sheet (21) and a second solid electrolyte sheet (22).

14. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the conductor track (101), that is to say the extent of the conductor track (101) in the direction perpendicular to the large area of the sensor element (10), is preferably in the range from 4 to 20 μm is in the range from 5 to 10 μm.

15. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor element (10) has a first electrochemical cell which has a first electrode (31a), a second electrode (32a) and one between the first and the second electrode (31a, 32a) arranged solid electrolyte film (21), wherein the first electrode (31a) is applied to an outer surface of the sensor element (10), and wherein the second electrode (32a) is provided in a measuring gas space (41) arranged inside the sensor element (10) , which is connected via a gas inlet opening (43) and a diffusion barrier (42) to the measurement gas located outside the sensor element (10), and that the sensor element (10) has a second electrochemical cell which has the second electrode (32a) and / or comprises a third electrode (33a) and a fourth electrode (34a), the second and / or third electrode (32a, 33a) being electrically connected by a solid electrolyte (21, 22) are bound, the third electrode (33a) being arranged within the measurement gas space (41), the fourth electrode (34a) being exposed to a reference gas, and the conductor track (101) having a constriction (60) being the second and / or the third electrode (32a, 33a) and the third feed line (33b).

16. Sensor element according to claim 15, characterized in that the area of the conductor track (101) containing the constriction (60) is arranged between the fourth electrode (34a) and the heating element (51), so that the fourth electrode (34a) through the the area of the conductor track (101) containing the constriction (60) is electrically insulated and / or electrically shielded from the heating element (51).

17. Sensor element according to claim 16, characterized in that the constriction (60) is designed as at least one recess (61, 62).

18. Sensor element according to claim 15, characterized in that the conductor track in the region of the constriction (60) has a strip (92) which runs along the projection of the contour of the fourth electrode (34a) onto the layer plane of the third electrode (33a).

19. Sensor element according to claim 18, characterized in that the width of the strip (92) is at least 0.5 mm.

20. Sensor element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor track (lθl) contains a gas diffusion-inhibiting section (71) through which the gas exchange between the electrode (101a) and the feed line (101b) of the conductor track (101) is prevented or at least is slowed down.

21. Sensor element according to claim 20, characterized in that the pore fraction of the diffusion-inhibiting section (71) is less than the pore fraction of the electrode (101a).

22. Sensor element according to claim 21, characterized in that the pore fraction of the diffusion-inhibiting section (71) in the range of 1 to 10 volume percent, preferably 3 to 7 volume percent, and that the pore fraction of the electrode (101a) in the range of 10 to 50 volume percent , is preferably 20 to 30 percent by volume

23. Sensor element according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the conductor track (101) has a metallic part and a ceramic part, and that the ceramic part of the diffusion-inhibiting section (71) of the conductor track (101) is less than the ceramic Portion of the electrode (101a) of the conductor track (101), the ceramic portion of the diffusion-inhibiting section (71) in particular in the range from 10 to 40 volume percent, preferably in the range from 15 to 30 volume percent, and the ceramic portion of the electrode (101a) in Range of 15 to 50 volume percent, preferably in the range of 20 to 40 volume percent.

24. Sensor element according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the electrode (101a) has an open porosity and the diffusion-inhibiting section (71) has a closed porosity.

25. Sensor element (10), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, in particular for detecting a gas component in a measurement gas, preferably for determining the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, with a conductor track (101.) Applied to a solid electrolyte (21, 22) ), which comprises an electrode (101a) provided in a measuring region (11) of the sensor element (10) and an electrode lead (101b) leading to the electrode (101a) and arranged in a supply region (12) of the sensor element (10), wherein a heating element (51) for heating the measuring region (11) of the Sensorelement_r ^s is provided (10), characterized in that the electrode (101a) includes a first electrode portion (81) and a second electrode portion (82), wherein the first electrode portion ( 81) is connected to the electrode lead (101b) in a transition area (13) between the measuring area (11) and the lead area (12), and wherein the first and second electrode sections (81, 82) are only electrically connected (85) to one another on their sides facing away from the lead area (12).

26. Sensor element according to claim 25, characterized in that the second electrode section (82) is shaped like a circular ring and on its side facing the supply area (12) has a recess (83) in which the first electrode section (81) is arranged is.

7. Sensor element according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the electrode (101a) having the first and the second electrode section (81, 82) is the first electrode (31a)