Rapid Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds by Switch-Scan Tuning of Vernier Quantum-Cascade Lasers.

ABSTRACT: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exhibit typically broad and mutually overlapping ro-vibrational absorption fingerprints. This complexity has so far limited the applicability of laser-based spectroscopy for VOC measurements in complex gas matrices. Here, we exploit a Vernier-type quantum-cascade laser (QCL) as an electrically tunable multiwavelength source for selective and sensitive VOC analysis. This emerging class of lasers provides access to several spectral windows by discrete Vernier tuning ("switching") and continuous coverage within these windows ("scanning"). We present a versatile driving technique that efficiently combines the two tuning mechanisms. Applied to our Vernier QCL, it enables the rapid acquisition (within 360 ms) of high-resolution spectra from six individual spectr

SUBMITTER: Brechbuhler R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9909733 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature