Methane detection using an interband-cascade LED coupled to a hollow-core fiber

Midwave infrared interband-cascade light-emitting devices (ICLEDs) have the potential to improve the selectivity, stability, and sensitivity of low-cost gas sensors. We demonstrate a broadband direct absorption CH4 sensor with an ICLED coupled to a plastic hollow-core fiber (1 m length, 1500 µm inner diameter). The sensor achieves a 1σ noise equivalent absorption of approximately 0.2 ppmv CH4 at 1 Hz, while operating at a low drive power of 0.5 mW. A low-cost sub-ppmv CH4 sensor would make monitoring emissions more affordable and more accessible for many relevant industries, such as the petroleum, agriculture, and waste industries.