European Consortium Develops Components for Miniaturized Gas Sensors Based on Mid-IR Spectroscopy

In an H2020-project MIREGAS, Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT Ltd and Tampere University of Technology teams, together with European partners, developed novel components for miniaturized gas sensors exploiting the principle of Mid-IR absorption spectroscopy. In particular, the main advances concerned the development of novel superluminescent LEDs for 2.65 µm wavelength, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) with 1nm bandwidth for spectral filtering at Mid-IR, hot-embossed Mid-IR lenses for beamforming and photodetectors for 2 to 3µm wavelengths.
 
Silicon photonics PIC technology that was originally developed for optical communication applications allows for the miniaturization of the sensor. The components entail important benefits in terms of cost, volume production and reliability.
 
The market impact is expected to be disruptive since the devices currently on the market are typically complicated, expensive and heavy instruments. The components developed by the consortium enable miniaturized integrated sensors with important benefits in terms of cost, volume production and reliability, which are instrumental features for the wide penetration of gas sensing applications.
 
The IR spectroscopy is a tool for multigas analysis. Conventional sensors are based on the use of filters, spectrometers or tunable lasers. MIREGAS project has introduced breakthrough components, which enable multigas analysis using integrated solution. Moreover, using the new technology, the wavelengths of light can be filtered more precisely and interfering gas components can be excluded.
 
H2020 European consortium MIREGAS brought together European institutes and multinational companies. On the technology side, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd coordinated the program and provided Si PICs as well as photonics packaging and integration technologies. The Optoelectronics Research Centre at the Tampere University of Technology in Finland was responsible for developing innovative superluminescent LEDs, ITME for moldable Mid-IR lenses and VIGO for Mid-IR detectors. Industrial partners Vaisala, AirOptic and GasSecure brought their competencies in the areas of gas sensing and Mid-IR sensor fabrication, and at the same time, validated the technologies developed by the consortium.
 
“The project will enable us to extend our gas sensing technology into new market areas. The MIREGAS technology offers a unique mix of sensitivity, selectivity and competitive pricing that will be a complement to our present high-performance, laser-based sensing technology. Airoptic plans to a release the first product for hydrocarbon detection based on the technology developed within the MIREGAS project in 2019,” CEO Pawel Kluczynski of Airoptic.