Novel Light Sources & Detectors for mid IR Gas Sensors Powered by Energy Harvesting

It is proposed to develop novel low cost mid infra-red light sources and detectors, based on light emitting diodes (LED`s) and photodiodes (PD`s) respectively, primarily for use in non-dispersive infr-red (NDIR) gas sensors. This replaces the conventional incandescent light bulbs and pyroelectric detectors used in current NDIR gas sensors. Energy per gas concentration measurement is reduced by a factor of typically 3000, enabling sensors to be powered from batteries and power harvesting. Primary benefit is economic deployment of wireless sensor networks and sensor portability. The specific objectives are a) To establish the necessary mid IR device efficiencies b) To develop mid IR LED`s and PD`s operating at wavelengths matched to absorption wavebands for commercially relevant gases c) To produce and test NDIR sensors powered from energy harvesting.