Methane detection using an interband-cascade LED coupled to a hollow-core fiber
Nathan Li, Lei Tao, Hongming Yi, Chul Soo Kim, Mijin Kim, C. L. Canedy, Charles D. Merritt, W. W. Bewley, I. Vurgaftman, J. R. Meyer, Mark A. Zondlo
Abstract
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 CH 4 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 CH 4 at 1 Hz, while operating at a low drive power of 0.5 mW. A low-cost sub-ppmv CH 4 sensor would make monitoring emissions more affordable and more accessible for many relevant industries, such as the petroleum, agriculture, and waste industries.