Editorial – analysis in gases and liquids using quantum cascade lasers
Some time ago, the Editorial Board of Analyst discussed the possibility of a themed collection of papers on an aspect of analysis using quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). We felt that it was important to gather a collection of papers looking at the emerging number of ways that quantum cascade lasers could be employed for the analysis in gases and liquids – highlighting important developments and novel applications.We were fortunate to have two great Guest Editors to help shape the issue: Boris Mizaikoff and Bernhard Lendl. Professor Mizaikoff is a Chaired Professor heading the Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry at the University of Ulm, Germany. His research interests focus on optical sensors, biosensors and biomimetic sensors operating in the mid-infrared spectral range, as well as applications of novel IR light sources. Dr Bernhard Lendl is the leader of the research division on Environmental and Process Analytics at the Vienna University of Technology, Austria. His work focuses on the development of novel analytical techniques based on molecular spectroscopy for use in quantitative and qualitative analysis. He is also co-founder of QuantaRed Technologies, a spin-off from TU Vienna which develops and commercializes QCL-based analysers for the petrochemical industry. Incidentally, both graduated at TU Vienna in 1996 in the group of Prof. Robert Kellner and continue to collaborate on advancing IR spectroscopy and sensing.
The collection of papers presented in this issue come from authors invited by the Guest Editors and from additional authors who wished to contribute. There is work from Vincenzo Spagnolo and colleagues who have described a photo-acoustic gas sensing system that operates in the THz spectral range that employs a custom quartz tuning fork. Frank K. Tittel and co-authors discuss the environmental and medical applications of QCL-based sensors; in this case looking at detecting methane and nitrous oxide. From Armin Lambrecht and fellow researchers we have a paper on tunable external cavity QCLs and their potential for a number of analytical applications. Trace substance detection in gases and liquids is investigated by Pierre Jouy and colleagues through the extraction of cocaine from saliva. The analysis of sugar levels in beverages was tackled by Bernhard Lendl and colleagues by coupling high performance liquid chromatography with a QCL. Work by Mark C. Phillips and co-workers examines the use of QCLs for detecting fluorocarbons with a portable sensor system.
Our thanks go to the Guest Editors for their help with this themed collection, and to all the authors for their contributions. We hope you enjoy this collection of articles, which we present as a snapshot of this exciting area of research.
May Copsey, Editor, Analyst and Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor, Analyst, on behalf of the Guest Editors.
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