Gas detection using absorption properties of liquid crystals

Optical gas imaging is critical for many applications, but its use is currently limited by complexity and cost. Here we experimentally demonstrate a low cost solution based on an alternating bispectral IR filter. This filter is based on liquid crystal having absorption lines, which overlap those of hydrocarbon gases, and depend on the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. An alternating voltage modulates the orientation and thus the transmittance in the absorption bands, giving rise to different on-to-off intensity ratios for gases, and any clutter emission. Our demonstration of refrigerant gas R134a detection shows a high gas to clutter contrast and opens the way for using this method in many low cost applications.