Quantum cascade laser-based sensor system for nitric oxide detection
2015
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 H 2 O and CO 2 . 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.
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