Carbon Dioxide Detection (CO₂)

Application areas of laser-based carbon dioxide detection

nanoplus lasers for carbon dioxide detection are used for various applications including:

Process Optimization: Combustion control
Process Optimization: Steel production
Process Optimization: Waste incinerator
Environment: Emission control
Safety: Quality control in natural gas pipelines
Health: Breath gas analysis
Automotive: Emission control
Space: Isotope detection by NASA Mars Rover Curiosity
Research: Isotope selective detection

Tunable diode laser spectroscopy allows measuring CO₂ with up to ppb precision in real time and in situ. Providing long-term stability and requiring little maintenance, nanoplus lasers are suitable for operation in harsh environments.

Standard wavelengths for carbon dioxide detection

nanoplus offers various wavelengths to target the vibrational-rotational bands of carbon dioxide. Literature recommends the following wavelengths for carbon dioxide detection:

Select your wavelength for carbon dioxide detection

Above wavelengths as well as further customized wavelengths for carbon dioxide detection are available from nanoplus.

When you choose your wavelength, you have to consider your product set up, environment and nature of the measurement.

These factors influence the optimum wavelength for your application. Do have a look at the Hitran Database to further evaluate your choice of wavelengths. Our application experts are equally happy to discuss with you the most suitable wavelength for your application.

Let us know the wavelength you require with an accuracy of 0.1 nm!

Figure 1: Absorption features of carbon dioxide in the 0.76 µm to 6.0 µm range

Related information for laser-based carbon dioxide detection

Specifications & Mountings

Applications

Papers & Links

The following tables analyse the typical specifications of the standard wavelengths for CO₂ detection.

electro-optical properties of 1590.0 nm DFB laser diode	symbol	unit	minimum	typical	maximum
standard wavelength	λ	nm		1590.0
absorption line strength	S	cm / mol		∼ 2 x 10^-23
output power	p_out	mW	5	7	10
threshold current	l_th	mA	10	25	30
current tuning coefficient	c_T	nm / mA	0.008	0.015	0.02
temperature tuning coefficient	c_I	nm / K	0.07	0.1	0.14
mode hop free tuning range	Δλ	nm	+/- 0.5	+/- 0.7	+/- 1

electro-optical properties of 2004.0 nm DFB laser diode	symbol	unit	minimum	typical	maximum
standard wavelength	λ	nm		2004.0
absorption line strength	S	cm / mol		∼ 1 x 10^-21
output power	p_out	mW		3
threshold current	l_th	mA	10	25	30
current tuning coefficient	c_T	nm / mA	0.01	0.02	0.05
temperature tuning coefficient	c_I	nm / K	0.18	0.2	0.23
mode hop free tuning range	Δλ	nm		+/- 0.5

electro-optical properties of 2682.0 nm DFB laser diode	symbol	unit	minimum	typical	maximum
standard wavelength	λ	nm		2682.0
absorption line strength	S	cm / mol		∼ 1 x 10^-19
output power	p_out	mW		2
threshold current	l_th	mA	30	50	80
current tuning coefficient	c_T	nm / mA	0.01	0.02	0.05
temperature tuning coefficient	c_I	nm / K	0.15	0.2	0.28
mode hop free tuning range	Δλ	nm		+/- 0.5

electro-optical properties of 4225.0 nm DFB interband cascade laser	symbol	unit	minimum	typical	maximum
standard wavelength	λ	nm		4225.0
absorption line strength	S	cm / mol		∼ 3 x 10^-18
threshold current	l_th	mA	30	40	60
output power	p_out	mW		> 3
current tuning coefficient	c_T	nm / mA		0.12
temperature tuning coefficient	c_I	nm / K		0.45
mode hop free tuning range	Δλ	nm		+/- 0.5

mounting options / technical drawings	wavelength	TEC	cap with window	AR cap with AR window	fiber	heatsink	collimation
TO5.6	760 nm - 3000 nm	NA	✔	NA	NA	NA	NA
TO5	760 nm - 3000 nm	✔	NA	✔	NA	✔	✔
TO66	3000 nm - 6000 nm	✔	NA	✔	NA	✔	✔
c-mount	760 nm - 3000 nm	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
SM-BTF	760 nm - 2360 nm	✔	NA	NA	single mode	NA	NA
PM-BTF	1064 nm - 2050 nm	✔	NA	NA	polarization maintaining	NA	NA

Ask for further packages.

Please find below a number of application samples.

Combustion control in high temperature processes: CO₂ and CH₄
Continuous monitoring of contents like CO₂ or CH₄ concentrations is essential for the efficiency of high-temperature processes in e. g. incinerators, furnaces or petrochemical refineries. Managing the CO₂ content in combustion processes simultaneously reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This is also relevant for energy generating industries like coal burning power plants. [12, 35, 40, 45, 62, 94, 96, 112, 113, 116, 122, 125]

Quality control in natural gas pipelines: CO₂
CO₂ is a natural diluent in oil and gas deposits. When it reacts with H₂S and H₂O steel pipelines corrode. Real-time monitoring of CO₂ at natural gas custody transfer points is necessary to avoid contaminated gas from flowing downstream. Immediate measures may be taken to purify the natural gas. [116]

Emission control of greenhouse gases: CO₂
Environmental policies have been implemented worldwide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, human activities account for more than three quarters of CO₂ emissions. They are mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels for energy generation, transportation and industry. Remote sensing technologies have been introduced to quantify CO₂ and CO emissions in atmosphere. [93, 106, 116]

Monitoring of breath gas: CO₂
Helicobacter pylori bacteria cause stomach ulcer. Breath analysis diagnoses such an infection in a non-invasive way replacing disagreeable gastroscopies. It uses the CO₂ concentration in exhaled breath as a biomarker. [9,88, 116]

Emission control of exhaust fumes: CO₂ and NO_x
Guided by environmental policies, the automobile industry is concerned to reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles. Automotive suppliers develop innovative combustion engines to control CO₂ and NO_x concentration in exhaust fumes. [116]

Emission control of exhaust fumes: CO₂
Remote sensing technologies identify unclean vehicles on the road. They help to control traffic-generated carbon dioxide emissions. [116]

NASA Mars Rover Curiosity with nanoplus laser in TDLS module SAM

Isotope detection by NASA Mars Rover Curiosity: CO₂ and H₂O
NASA’s flagship Rover Curiosity detects CO₂ and H₂O isotopes based on their tunable laser spectrometer SAM. The analysis of soil samples is to determine whether Mars is or has been a suitable living environment. We are proud that the instrument uses a 2.78 µm nanoplus laser for this measurement. [25, 116]

Surveillance of volcanic activities: CO₂
Early warning systems for volcanic eruptions continuously monitor CO₂ by TDLS, as it is an abundant volcanic gas. [116]

Please find below a selection of related papers from our literature list.

Let us know if you published a paper with our lasers. We will be happy to include it in our literature list.

#4 Laser-Based Analyzers – Shining New Stars;
P. Nesdore, Gases & Instrumentation, March/April 2011, pp. 30-33.

#9 DFB Lasers Between 760 nm and 16 µm for Sensing Applications;
W. Zeller, L. Naehle, P. Fuchs, F. Gerschuetz, L. Hildebrandt, J. Koeth, Sensors 2010, 10, pp. 2492-2510.

#12 CO₂ concentration and temperature sensor for combustion gases using diode-laser absorption near 2.7 µm;
A. Farooq, J.B. Jeffries, R.K. Hanson, Appl. Phys. B 90, 2008, pp. 619-628.

#16 Diode laser measurements of linestrength and temperature-dependent lineshape parameters of H₂O-, CO₂-, and N₂-perturbed H₂O transitions near 2474 and 2482 nm;
C.S. Goldenstein, J.B. Jeffries, R.K. Hanson, J. of Quantitative Spectr. & Radiative Transfer 130, 2013, pp. 100–111.

#19 Measurements of Mars Methane at Gale Crater by the SAM Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity Rover;
C.R. Webster, P.R. Mahaffy, S.K. Atreya, G.J. Flesch, K.A. Farley, 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 18-22, 2013, LPI Contribution No. 1719, p.1366.

#25 Isotope Ratios of H, C, and O in CO₂ and H₂O of the Martian Atmosphere;
C.R. Webster, P.R. Mahaffy, G.J. Flesch, P.B. Niles, J. Jones, L.A. Leshin, S.K. Atreya, J.C. Stern, L.E. Christensen, T. Owen, H. Franz, R.O. Pepin, A. Steele, Science, 341, 6143, 2013, pp. 260-263.

#35 TDLAS-based sensors for in situ measurement of syngas composition in a pressurized, oxygen-blown, entrained flow coal gasifier;
R. Sur, K. Sun, J.B. Jeffries, R.K. Hanson, R.J. Pummill, T. Waind, D.R. Wagner, K.J. Whitty, Appl. Phys. B, 116, 1, 2014, pp. 33-42.

#38 Monolithic widely tunable laser diodes for gas sensing at 2100 nm;
N. Koslowski, A. Heger, K. Roesner, M. Legge, L. Hildebrandt, J. Koeth, Proc. SPIE 8640, Novel In-Plane Semiconductor Lasers XII, 2013, 864008.

#40 Comb-assisted spectroscopy of CO₂ absorption profiles in the near- and mid-infrared regions;
A. Gambetta, D. Gatti, A. Castrillo, N. Coluccelli, G. Galzerano, P. Laporta, L. Gianfrani, M. Marangoni, Appl. Phys. B, 109, 3, Nov. 2012, pp. 385-390.

#45 Measurements of CO2 in a multipass cell and in a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber at 2 µm;
J. A. Nwaboh, J. Hald, J. K. Lyngsø, J. C. Petersen, O. Werhahn, Appl. Phys. B, 109, 3, Nov. 2012, pp. 187-194.

#50 Mid-IR difference frequency laser-based sensors for ambient CH₄, CO, and N₂O monitoring;
J. J. Scherer, J. B. Paul, H. J. Jost, Marc L. Fischer, Appl. Phys. B, 109, 3, Nov. 2012, pp. 271-277.

#63 Breath Analysis Using Laser Spectroscopic Techniques: Breath Biomarkers, Spectral Fingerprints, and Detection Limits;
C. Wang and P. Sahay, Sensors 2009, 9, 8230-8262.

#71 Novel utilisation of a circular multi-reflection cell applied to materials ageing experiments;
D.A. Knox, A.K. King, E.D. McNaghten, S.J. Brooks, P.A. Martin, S.M. Pimblott, App. Phys. B, 2015, 119, pp. 55-64.

#88 Oxygen-18 isotope of breath CO₂ linking to erythrocytes carbonic anhydrase activity: a biomarker for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes;
C. Ghosh, G. D. Banik, A. Maity, S. Som, A. Chakraborty, C. Selvan, S. Ghosh, S. Chowdhury, M. Pradhan, Scientific Reports, 2015, 5 : 8137.

#94 Compact optical probe for flame temperature and carbon dioxide using interband cascade laser absorption near 4.2 μm;
J. J. Girard, R. M. Spearrin, C. S. Goldenstein, R. K. Hanson, Elsevier, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 178, April 2017, pp. 158 – 167.

#96 Fiber-coupled 2.7 μm laser absorption sensor for CO2 in harsh combustion environments;
R. M. Spearrin, C. S. Goldenstein, J. B. Jeffries and R. K. Hanson, Meas. Sci. Technol. 24, April 2013, 055107.

#104 Mid-infrared heterodyne phase-sensitive dispersion spectroscopy in flame measurements;
L. Ma, Z. Wang, K.-P. Cheong, H. Ning, W. Ren, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 2018, pp. 1 - 8.

#106 Design and performance of a dual-laser instrument for multiple isotopologues of carbon dioxide and water;
J. B. McManus, D. D. Nelson and M. S. Zahniser, Optics Express Vol. 23, Issue 5, 2015, pp. 6569-6586.

# 107 Recent progress in laser‑based trace gas instruments: performance and noise analysis;
J. B. McManus, M. S. Zahniser, D. D. Nelson et. al., Appl. Phys. B, 2015, 119: 203.

#112 Mid-infrared heterodyne phase-sensitive dispersion spectroscopy in flame measurements;
L. Ma, Z. Wang, K.-P. Cheong, H. Ning, W. Ren, Pro. of the Comb. Inst. Vol. 37, Issue 2, 2019, pp. 1329 - 1336.

# 113 Non-uniform temperature and species concentration measurements in a laminar flame using multi-band infrared absorption spectroscopy;
L. Ma, L. Y. Lau, W. Ren, Appl. Phys. B, 2017,123: 83.

#116 A portable low-power QEPAS-based CO₂ isotope sensor using a fiber-coupled interband cascade laser;
Z. Wanga, Q. Wanga, J. Y.-L. Chingb, J. C.-Y. Wub, G. Zhangc, W. Rena,∗Sensors and Actuators, B 246, 2017, pp. 710–715.

#122 A comparative laser absorption and gas chromatography study of low-temperature n-heptane oxidation intermediates;
A. M. Ferris, J. W. Streicher, A. J. Susa, D. F. Davidson, R. K. Hanson, Proc. of the Comb. Inst. Vol. 37, Iss. 1, 2019, pp. 249-257.

# 125 Tomographic laser absorption imaging ofcombustion species and temperature in the mid-wave infrared;
C. Wei, D. I. Pineda, C. S. Goldenstein, R. M. Spearrin, Opt. Exp., Vol. 26, Iss. 16, 2018, pp. 20944 - 20951.

#134 Midinfrared sensor system based on tunable laser absorption spectroscopy for dissolved carbon dioxide analysis in the south china sea: system-level integration and deployment;
Z. Liu, C. Zheng, T. Zhang, Y. Li, Q. Ren, C. Chen, W. Ye, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, F. K. Tittel, Anal. Chem., Vol. 92, Iss. 12, 2020, pp. 8178 − 8185.

#138 Line mixing and broadening of carbon dioxide by argon in the v₃ bandhead near 4.2 μm at high temperatures and high pressures;
D. D. Lee, F. A. Bendana, A. P. Nair, D. I. Pineda , R. M. Spearrin, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative Transfer, No. 253, 2020, 107135.

#140 Development of a Method for Non‐Invasive Measurement of Absolute Pressure in Partially Transparent Containers with Carbonated Beverages;
M. Grafen, M. Falkenstein, A. Ostendorf, C. Esen, Chemie, Ingenieur, Technik, Vol. 92, Iss. 11, Spec. Iss.: Bioraffinerien, Nov. 2020, pp 1830 - 1839.

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