Lightweight, Low Cost, High Accuracy Atmospheric CO2 sensor

Improved measurements of atmospheric CO2 are needed to better characterize processes involving carbon transformations of soil, vegetation, and associated ecosystem components, and exchanges with the atmosphere. However, current state-of-the-art CO2 sensors neither have the accuracy at the low end (portable units) nor can meet the constraints in power/weight/size/cost at the high end (laboratory instruments). This project will develop a compact, portable, high sensitivity, reliable mid-infrared spectrometer-based CO2 sensor. The approach leverages two recent developments in quantum cascade laser diode: (1) a highly-efficient, high-intensity, midwave infrared (MWIR) source and (2) a hollow-core infrared optical fiber, which provides an extraordinary long optical path. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Practical, low-cost, high-precision CO2 sensors would have a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, such as environmental monitoring, bio-aerosol, geo-chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, life science, pollution monitoring, and security systems. In addition, the technology could be modified to detect other trace gases, such as nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (N2O), formaldehyde (H2CO), methane (CH4), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Applications that require such measurements include air quality control; atmospheric chemistry; mapping of agricultural, landfill, and traffic emission; and pipeline leak detection.