Photoacoustic-Based Gas Sensing: A Review

Abstract

The use of the photoacoustic effect to gauge the concentration of gases is an attractive alternative in the realm of optical detection methods. Even though the effect has been applied for gas sensing for almost a century, its potential for ultra-sensitive and miniaturized devices is still not fully explored. This review article revisits two fundamentally different setups commonly used to build photoacoustic-based gas sensors and presents some distinguished results in terms of sensitivity, ultra-low detection limits, and miniaturization. The review contrasts the two setups in terms of the respective possibilities to tune the selectivity, sensitivity, and potential for miniaturization.

Advancements in Microfabricated Gas Sensors and Microanalytical Tools for the Sensitive and Selective Detection of Odors

“…Nonetheless, recent studies show that a significant reduction in the detection limit of NDIR devices (i.e., LOD < 1 ppm) can be achieved by the use of optical fibers or interference correction factors [ 49 ]. In addition, photoacoustic devices (PAD) have emerged as a very promising alternative to improve the performance of NDIR and other optical devices [ 51 ]. Recent studies show a significant decrease in the LOD of PAD compared to traditional NDIR devices, which can be down to a few ppb (e.g., 10 ppb [ 51 ]).…”

“…In addition, photoacoustic devices (PAD) have emerged as a very promising alternative to improve the performance of NDIR and other optical devices [ 51 ]. Recent studies show a significant decrease in the LOD of PAD compared to traditional NDIR devices, which can be down to a few ppb (e.g., 10 ppb [ 51 ]). In PAD, VOCs are enclosed in a resonant acoustic chamber and sound waves are optically induced to each analyte based on the amount of light absorbed [ 52 ].…”

Global Research Alliance N2O chamber methodology guidelines: Recommendations for air sample collection, storage, and analysis

“…Independent correction schemes have also been developed (Tirol‐Padre et al., 2014; van der Weerden, Clough, & Styles, 2013). Field study has shown that care is needed to get useful quantitative data (Debouk et al., 2018; Nicoloso et al., 2013) The instruments are also sensitive to environmental temperature (Debouk et al., 2018; Rosenstock et al., 2013) and other instrument drifts (Palzer, 2020). Providing that care is taken with deployment, analyzer costs are lower than with many other optical instruments, and portability is good compared with cavity laser spectroscopy.…”

Calibration of Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic Sensors for Real-Life Adaptation

“…The photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) technique is finding increasing interest as a powerful, yet simple, trace-gas detection method [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. PAS, however, is not an absolute metrological technique, and its use requires detailed knowledge of the chemical composition of the investigated gas sample.…”