Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced Technique

In this paper, a highly sensitive methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) sensor based on light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) and a T-shaped quartz tuning fork (QTF) with hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) and helium (He) enhancement techniques are reported for the first time. The low re...

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Main Authors: Yuanzhi Wang, Ying He, Shunda Qiao, Xiaoming Duan, Yufei Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7743
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author Yuanzhi Wang
Ying He
Shunda Qiao
Xiaoming Duan
Yufei Ma
author_facet Yuanzhi Wang
Ying He
Shunda Qiao
Xiaoming Duan
Yufei Ma
author_sort Yuanzhi Wang
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, a highly sensitive methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) sensor based on light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) and a T-shaped quartz tuning fork (QTF) with hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) and helium (He) enhancement techniques are reported for the first time. The low resonant frequency self-designed T-shaped QTF was exploited for improving the energy accumulation time. H<sub>2</sub> and He were utilized as surrounding gases for the T-shaped QTF to minimize energy loss, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the LITES sensor. Additionally, a fiber-coupled multi-pass cell (FC-MPC) with a 40 m optical length was utilized to improve the optical absorption of CH<sub>4</sub>. The frequency response of the T-shaped QTF with different concentrations of H<sub>2</sub> and He was investigated, and the Q factor in the H<sub>2</sub> and He environment increased significantly. Compared to operating QTF in a nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) environment, the signal amplitude was enhanced by 2.9 times and 1.9 times in pure H<sub>2</sub> and He environments, respectively. This enhancement corresponded to a minimum detection limit (MDL) of 80.3 ppb and 113.6 ppb. Under different CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations, the T-shaped QTF-based H<sub>2</sub>-enhanced CH<sub>4</sub>-LITES sensor showed an excellent linear response. Furthermore, through Allan deviation analysis, the MDL of the T-shaped QTF-based H<sub>2</sub>-enhanced CH<sub>4</sub>-LITES can reach 38 ppb with an 800 s integration time.
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spelling doaj-art-e37e875423884f3fa4e56543045a43fe2025-08-20T02:50:37ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202024-12-012423774310.3390/s24237743Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced TechniqueYuanzhi Wang0Ying He1Shunda Qiao2Xiaoming Duan3Yufei Ma4National Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaIn this paper, a highly sensitive methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) sensor based on light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) and a T-shaped quartz tuning fork (QTF) with hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) and helium (He) enhancement techniques are reported for the first time. The low resonant frequency self-designed T-shaped QTF was exploited for improving the energy accumulation time. H<sub>2</sub> and He were utilized as surrounding gases for the T-shaped QTF to minimize energy loss, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the LITES sensor. Additionally, a fiber-coupled multi-pass cell (FC-MPC) with a 40 m optical length was utilized to improve the optical absorption of CH<sub>4</sub>. The frequency response of the T-shaped QTF with different concentrations of H<sub>2</sub> and He was investigated, and the Q factor in the H<sub>2</sub> and He environment increased significantly. Compared to operating QTF in a nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) environment, the signal amplitude was enhanced by 2.9 times and 1.9 times in pure H<sub>2</sub> and He environments, respectively. This enhancement corresponded to a minimum detection limit (MDL) of 80.3 ppb and 113.6 ppb. Under different CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations, the T-shaped QTF-based H<sub>2</sub>-enhanced CH<sub>4</sub>-LITES sensor showed an excellent linear response. Furthermore, through Allan deviation analysis, the MDL of the T-shaped QTF-based H<sub>2</sub>-enhanced CH<sub>4</sub>-LITES can reach 38 ppb with an 800 s integration time.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7743methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) detectionlight-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES)hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) and helium (He) enhanced techniqueT-shaped quartz tuning forkfiber-coupled multi-pass cell (FC-MPC)
spellingShingle Yuanzhi Wang
Ying He
Shunda Qiao
Xiaoming Duan
Yufei Ma
Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced Technique
Sensors
methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) detection
light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES)
hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) and helium (He) enhanced technique
T-shaped quartz tuning fork
fiber-coupled multi-pass cell (FC-MPC)
title Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced Technique
title_full Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced Technique
title_fullStr Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced Technique
title_full_unstemmed Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced Technique
title_short Highly Sensitive T-Shaped Quartz Tuning Fork Based CH<sub>4</sub>-Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor with Hydrogen and Helium Enhanced Technique
title_sort highly sensitive t shaped quartz tuning fork based ch sub 4 sub light induced thermoelastic spectroscopy sensor with hydrogen and helium enhanced technique
topic methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) detection
light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES)
hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) and helium (He) enhanced technique
T-shaped quartz tuning fork
fiber-coupled multi-pass cell (FC-MPC)
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7743
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