Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BROMEDIR (Broadband MEMS-based InfraRed spectrometers: The core of a multipurpose spectral sensing photonic platform)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
The project utilises Neospectra as a Spectroscopy Development Platform, to target the development of a radically new FTIR spectrometer with multiple extensions of its capabilities beyond the state-of-the-art (SotA). In parallel, a novel, miniaturised PTS spectrometer will be developed, taking advantage of the same silicon-MEMS technology development platform used for the development of the Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) employed in Neospectra’s FTIR chip. Within BROMEDIR, this new generation of miniature spectrometers (mid-IR MEMS FTIR spectrometer for liquids and the laser-based MEMS PTS spectrometer for gases) will be used in combination with different novel modules and smart setups to develop integrated sensing platforms, which will be demonstrated in three significantly diversified application domains: a) sustainable farming, b) quality monitoring of the hydrogen supply chain and c) fuel quality control.
Development of the new generation of miniaturised MEMS-FTIR spectrometers have been initiated. The requirements specifications were defined as part of the D2.3 deliverable which includes the development of both system requirements and conceptual designs of the spectroscopic systems aimed within the project. The work on the PTS spectrometer is also progressing in line with the FTIR instruments and definitions already documented also as part of D2.3 deliverable on system requirements and conceptual designs. With the completion of WP2, user and stakeholder requirements were also identified and initial validation scenarios defined. Furthermore, WP3 has progressed well with the completion of first versions for both FTIR and PTS interferometer structures for the PICs and further progressed with the fabrication of both PICs. In parallel, WP4 was focused on the completion of the new photodetectors and light sources as part of T4.1 & T4.2. The research and development on the ATR with mesoporous layers was also initiated within the RP1. As a continuation of the aforementioned progress, the tasks 4.4 and 4.5 involved with the spectrometer level integration and testing of FTIR and PTS spectrometers respectively, are currently being taken forward. Within WP5, the technical developments on T5.4 regarding the electrochemical H2 separator compressor stack were also recently initiated within RP1 and with initial progress already obvious. T5.5 on data analytics has well progressed during the period with many technical discussions taking place and plans concluded which in turn allowed some initial developments. Exchange of some first data samples already successfully accomplished to support the platform developments. WP6 also initiated with the first task T6.1 on validation protocols relevant to all three use cases of the project completed.
The three spectroscopic systems of the project will be tested in different configurations. The novel modules, materials and techniques, are already being studied in parallel to achieve beyond-SotA performance as targeted. Within RP1 some first scientific results have been already published at peer reviewed journals which in turn indicates the project's potential to meet the project's target beyond-SotA performance.