Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide low power non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensors. The gas sensors comprise a thin film plasmonic light source that produces a time modulated parallel light beam at multiple selected wavelengths. The parallel light beam from the light source passes through a gas chamber without using focusing or collimating optical components. The gas sensors are continuously self-calibrated against environmental changes, such as temperatures and relative humidity, and aging. The gas sensors are suitable for use in hazardous environments because their low power and small thermal mass reduces the risk of explosion. The gas sensors can be integrated into conventional mobile device platforms.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide low power non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensors. The gas sensors comprise a thin film plasmonic light source that produces a time modulated parallel light beam at multiple selected wavelengths. The parallel light beam from the light source passes through a gas chamber without using focusing or collimating optical components. The gas sensors are continuously self-calibrated against environmental changes, such as temperatures and relative humidity, and aging. The gas sensors are suitable for use in hazardous environments because their low power and small thermal mass reduces the risk of explosion. The gas sensors can be integrated into conventional mobile device platforms.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the concentration of CO gas in a fuel reformate stream such as in a PEM fuel cell vehicle. This invention protects the fuel cell catalyst by controlling the reformate stream system to minimize the CO and reduce it by a novel catalyst system that selectively converts CO to methane but does not react with carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The catalyst may reduce the CO to methane by reaction with hydrogen. The preferred embodiment both monitors the CO by a thermal differential sensing means and an optical biomimetic sensor and or a conductivity sensor. These sensors respond to the CO gas and are monitored by one or more monitoring sensors such as the temperature and or conductivity difference between the control and the catalytic material such as nickel and in the biomimetic sensor an optical change is monitored.