Quantum cascade laser-based sensor system for nitric oxide detection

Frank K. Tittel; James J. Allred; Yingchun Cao; Nancy P. Sanchez; Wei Ren; Wenzhe Jiang; Dongfang Jiang; Robert J. Griffin

doi:10.1117/12.2083718

8 February 2015 Quantum cascade laser-based sensor system for nitric oxide detection

Frank K. Tittel, James J. Allred, Yingchun Cao, Nancy P. Sanchez, Wei Ren, Wenzhe Jiang, Dongfang Jiang, Robert J. Griffin

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9370, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices XII; 93700V (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2083718
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Sensitive detection of nitric oxide (NO) at ppbv concentration levels has an important impact in diverse fields of applications including environmental monitoring, industrial process control and medical diagnostics. For example, NO can be used as a biomarker of asthma and inflammatory lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Trace gas sensor systems capable of high sensitivity require the targeting of strong rotational-vibrational bands in the mid-IR spectral range. These bands are accessible using state-of-the-art high heat load (HHL) packaged, continuous wave (CW), distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) permits the design of fast, sensitive, selective, and compact sensor systems. A QEPAS sensor was developed employing a room-temperature CW DFB-QCL emitting at 5.26 μm with an optical excitation power of 60 mW. High sensitivity is achieved by targeting a NO absorption line at 1900.08 cm^-1 free of interference by H₂O and CO₂. The minimum detection limit of the sensor is 7.5 and 1 ppbv of NO with 1and 100 second averaging time respectively . The sensitivity of the sensor system is sufficient for detecting NO in exhaled human breath, with typical concentration levels ranging from 24.0 ppbv to 54.0 ppbv.

Citation Download Citation

Frank K. Tittel, James J. Allred, Yingchun Cao, Nancy P. Sanchez, Wei Ren, Wenzhe Jiang, Dongfang Jiang, and Robert J. Griffin "Quantum cascade laser-based sensor system for nitric oxide detection", Proc. SPIE 9370, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices XII, 93700V (8 February 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2083718

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