Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Photoacoustic Sensor for Trace Detection of Formaldehyde Gas 英文参考文献.docVIP

Sensors 2009, 9, 2697-2705; doi:10.3390/OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Article Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Photoacoustic Sensor for Trace Detection of Formaldehyde Gas Angela Elia *, Cinzia Di Franco, Vincenzo Spagnolo, Pietro Mario Lugarà and Gaetano Scamarcio Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica “M. Merlin”, Università and Politecnico of Bari, and Laboratorio Regionale CNR-INFM “LIT3”, Bari, I-70126, Italy; E-Mails: cinzia.difranco@fisica.uniba.it (C.- D.F.); spagnolo@fisica.uniba.it (V.S.); lugara@fisica.uniba.it (P.-M.L.); scamarcio@fisica.uniba.it (G.S.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: angela.elia@fisica.uniba.it (A.E.); Tel. +39-0805442397; Fax: +39-0805442219 Received: 6 February 2009; in revised form: 2 April 2009 / Accepted: 16 April 2009 / Published: 16 April 2009 Abstract: We report on the development of a photoacoustic sensor for the detection of formaldehyde (CH2O) using a thermoelectrically cooled distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser operating in pulsed mode at 5.6 ?m. A resonant photoacoustic cell, equipped with four electret microphones, is excited in its first longitudinal mode at 1,380 Hz. The absorption line at 1,778.9 cm-1 is selected for CH2O detection. A detection limit of 150 parts per billion in volume in nitrogen is achieved using a 10 seconds time constant and 4 mW laser power. Measurements in ambient air will require water vapour filters. Keywords: Formaldehyde; Quantum cascade laser; Photoacoustic spectroscopy; Trace gas sensor. 1. Introduction Formaldehyde (CH2O) is a carcinogenic pollutant emitted as an intermediate product in the oxidation of most biogenic and anthropogenic hydrocarbons. It is also known as a primary emission product of incomplete hydrocarbon combustion [1]. This makes formaldehyde an ubiquitous component of both remote and polluted urban atmospheric environments. The CH2O