Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method

Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) is a promising technique for trace gas sensing, offering advantages such as compact size and high sensitivity. However, noise remains a critical factor limiting detection sensitivity. In this study, a novel approach was proposed to leverage noise fo...

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Main Authors: Yingchao Xie, Hao Xiong, Shiling Feng, Ning Pan, Chuan Li, Yixuan Liu, Ye Zhang, Ligang Shao, Gaopeng Lu, Kun Liu, Guishi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Photoacoustics
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213597925000308
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author Yingchao Xie
Hao Xiong
Shiling Feng
Ning Pan
Chuan Li
Yixuan Liu
Ye Zhang
Ligang Shao
Gaopeng Lu
Kun Liu
Guishi Wang
author_facet Yingchao Xie
Hao Xiong
Shiling Feng
Ning Pan
Chuan Li
Yixuan Liu
Ye Zhang
Ligang Shao
Gaopeng Lu
Kun Liu
Guishi Wang
author_sort Yingchao Xie
collection DOAJ
description Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) is a promising technique for trace gas sensing, offering advantages such as compact size and high sensitivity. However, noise remains a critical factor limiting detection sensitivity. In this study, a novel approach was proposed to leverage noise for the enhancement of weak QEPAS signals. The method employs stochastic resonance (SR), which counterintuitively utilizes noise to amplify weak spectral signals, thereby significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the QEPAS sensor. The effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated through methane (CH₄) detection using QEPAS. Experimental results indicate that the SR algorithm enhances the output signal by a factor of 3 and reduces the minimum detection limit (MDL) from 329 ppb to 85 ppb compared to conventional QEPAS. The proposed SR-enhanced algorithm presents a promising strategy for further improving QEPAS sensor performance in trace gas detection.
format Article
id doaj-art-4fd0bd4f4a26427bb438fff9f5ad78b9
institution DOAJ
issn 2213-5979
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Photoacoustics
spelling doaj-art-4fd0bd4f4a26427bb438fff9f5ad78b92025-08-20T02:55:52ZengElsevierPhotoacoustics2213-59792025-06-014310070710.1016/j.pacs.2025.100707Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance methodYingchao Xie0Hao Xiong1Shiling Feng2Ning Pan3Chuan Li4Yixuan Liu5Ye Zhang6Ligang Shao7Gaopeng Lu8Kun Liu9Guishi Wang10School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Laboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, ChinaLaboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, ChinaLaboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, ChinaLaboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, ChinaLaboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, ChinaLaboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, ChinaLaboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, ChinaLaboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, China; Corresponding authors.Laboratory of Atmospheric Physico-Chemistry, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230000, China; Corresponding authors.Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) is a promising technique for trace gas sensing, offering advantages such as compact size and high sensitivity. However, noise remains a critical factor limiting detection sensitivity. In this study, a novel approach was proposed to leverage noise for the enhancement of weak QEPAS signals. The method employs stochastic resonance (SR), which counterintuitively utilizes noise to amplify weak spectral signals, thereby significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the QEPAS sensor. The effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated through methane (CH₄) detection using QEPAS. Experimental results indicate that the SR algorithm enhances the output signal by a factor of 3 and reduces the minimum detection limit (MDL) from 329 ppb to 85 ppb compared to conventional QEPAS. The proposed SR-enhanced algorithm presents a promising strategy for further improving QEPAS sensor performance in trace gas detection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213597925000308Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS)Stochastic resonance (SR)Trace gas sensorSignal enhancement
spellingShingle Yingchao Xie
Hao Xiong
Shiling Feng
Ning Pan
Chuan Li
Yixuan Liu
Ye Zhang
Ligang Shao
Gaopeng Lu
Kun Liu
Guishi Wang
Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method
Photoacoustics
Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS)
Stochastic resonance (SR)
Trace gas sensor
Signal enhancement
title Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method
title_full Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method
title_fullStr Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method
title_full_unstemmed Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method
title_short Sensitivity improvement of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method
title_sort sensitivity improvement of quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy using the stochastic resonance method
topic Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS)
Stochastic resonance (SR)
Trace gas sensor
Signal enhancement
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213597925000308
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