optical Method of Methane Gas detection?

Question

i want to simulate and design a Methane Gad detector by using optical method and photonic crystals.

Answer 1

Gases absorb light at different wavelengths so you could look at the spectrum of light passing through your sample but I don't think your detector is good enough Buying a good detector like the one used in the coal mining industry is a possibility they are called canaries but the lit match works for me

Answer 2

Try a lit match. If there is Methane there and as long as the rest of the atmosphere is not inert, you will see without optical aid....

On the other hand, could you take advantage of the light refracting through the different deinsity gas?

Answer 3

When light passes from one medium to another its path is bent slightly ( this is why lenses work ) In your case you are looking to detect the difference in that bend between normal air and methane. Note the temperature of the gas will also alter the bend in the light path.

Answer 4

I think you may be trying to overcomplicate your method. Gas detection can be achieved using self-indicating powders and crystals and there are a few on the market already. Your optical method would be to use a simple UV/Vis/NIR spectrophotomotre, I think Thermo, HP and Shimadzu make them.

Answer 5

You could look at it whilst holding the photonic crystals in one hand and the lite match in the other