Mid InfraRed Integrated photo-Acoustic spectrometer Device for Environment survey – MIRIADE

Gas sensor technology based on optical detection has already grown to be indispensable for various aspects in our modern society (chemical emission monitoring, process control, high sensitivity trace detection). However, available gas sensors are bulky, complex, and have a very high cost of ownership. The consequence is that they are not suitable for mass deployment. Further advancements of the technology are still strongly needed in order to improve sustainability of our society and quality of life. Among the possible advancements, the miniaturization of the gas sensor and the associated cost reduction are the main ways for mass deployment in many application areas with very high socio-economic implications as climate change and air quality controls. To bring optical gas spectroscopy towards laboratory-on-a-chip size is the objective of the MIRIADE project.

The MIRIADE project aims at demonstrating: (1) the feasibility of a fully integrated optical gas sensor which is made up of a Mid Infra-Red (MIR) multi-? source based on a Quantum Cascade Laser array and a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) all integrated on Si and a MEMS-scale Photo-Acoustic (PA) cell. This constitutes the main innovation of the MIRIADE project. (2) The potential adaptation of the integrated optical gas sensor for Green House Gases (GHG) survey.
The main advantages of the MIRIADE device are:
• High sensitivity by the use of the MIR wavelength range (4-10 µm).
• Adaptability by the simultaneous measurement of several gas species with one chip.
• High compactness by the use of an integrated µ-PA cell (~ cm2 chip).
• Low cost which allows a wider field deployment of detection systems.
The Consortium is composed of 5 partners including an industrial partner and a SME. The project activities will cover basic studies in physics, technologies as well as gas sensor tests.