Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BROMEDIR (Broadband MEMS-based InfraRed spectrometers: The core of a multipurpose spectral sensing photonic platform)
Reporting period: 2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30
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. This second period of the project was focused on all technical developments and initiation of integration tests. Specifically, WP3 is now close to completion with two tasks for the the interferometer designs for both FTIR and PTS completed within the period (T3.1 T3.2) and one task T3.3 successfully delivered the first version of PICs and currently close to concluding the second versions for delivery very soon. In WP4, both initial and upgraded versions of photodetectors and light sources were successfully delivered (T4.1 T4.2) marking also the completion of these tasks. Increased progressed achieved in T4.3 for the analysis of FAME in fuel with new upgraded developments recommended to achieve required results. The spectrometer level integration of both FTIR and PTS (T4.4 T4.5) has been successful in this period with first versions delivered, various consecutive upgrades of FTIR versions achieved and currently working towards delivering the final second versions. In WP5, much progress was achieved in terms of testing the prototypes within the context of each use case and integrated tests released some initial results. As part of WP6 the lab tests continued with tests to further evaluate the prototypes and prepare for later validations expected to initiate at the beginning of 2026 until the end of the project. WP7 focused mainly on the D&C aspects of the project also had significant progress with several conference papers accepted at international and European conference for keynote and poster presentations. Furthermore, BROMEDIR was also presented as part of a cluster booth where multiple workshops were arranged to physically demonstrate the new FTIR prototype live at visitors, end-users and technical scientists and innovators of the Photonics industry.
The three spectroscopic systems of the project will be tested in different configurations. The novel modules, materials and techniques, are already being studied and developed in parallel to achieve beyond-SotA performance as targeted. Within RP2 the scientific progress achieved to date has been submitted, accepted and presented at various International and European conferences e.g. Photonics West 2025, PIERS 2025 and CLEO EU 2025. The FTIR prototype was also demonstrated as part of several workshop meetings arranged within a cluster booth at Laser World Photonics 2025.