A modular sensing platform on silicon for the mid-infrared

Photonics-based sensing in the mid-IR has been proven to be the key technology for in a plethora of applications ranging from environmental monitoring to industrial process control, medical diagnostics, water quality, medical and more. Compared to other sensing approaches, mid-IR spectroscopy-based sensing enables fast, reliable, and consumables-free operation for the detection of trace amounts to high concentration of the targeted analytes. The interest in the technology has been significantly increased due to the maturing of the Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs). QCLs offer an up to 2-orders of magnitude enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio while enabling the direct access to the characteristic molecular fingerprint region of the targeted analytes. The Horizon Europe project M3NIR develops a modular sensing platform for the mid-IR, to significantly boost the technology in terms of performance (low limit of detection, multiple-species detection), footprint (co-integrating of lasers and components) reduction of energy consumption and cost. M3NIR will demonstrate its novel approaches for the monitoring of GHG and ships emission, detection of phosphates and nitrates in water and the breath analysis for health and well-being related applications.