On December 10th 2025, we held the first brainstorming session for Project PHANTOM in Ruurlo, the Netherlands, together with our project partners. In the project, we contribute with our expertise in tuneable lasers and we collaborate with project partners Radboud University, Bronkhorst, Aluvia, Epiphany, Saxion Hogeschool, Sensor Sense, VTEC Lasers & Sensors, High Tech NL and Spectrik.
Accurate identification and concentration measurement of gases are essential for safety, efficiency, and quality control. Applications range from detecting toxic hydrogen cyanide during manure storage and ammonia leaks in combustion engines or hydrogen cells, to monitoring ethylene levels in fruit storage and nitrogen compounds in livestock farming – especially relevant due to the nitrogen crisis.
Gas detection is typically achieved through laser absorption spectroscopy, where unique light absorption patterns reveal gas species and their concentration. However, challenges remain, including the challenge of accurately detecting gases in complex environments, varying sensitivity and size requirements across applications, and high sensor costs. The PHANTOM project addresses these issues by developing a photonic gas sensing platform that integrates cost-efficient lasers, tuneability, and photonic spirals depending on the desired application. This approach enables compact, affordable, and highly sensitive sensors suitable for diverse applications such as agriculture, green energy, fruit storage, and medical diagnostics, paving the way for scalable, plug-and-play gas sensing solutions.
The PHANTOM project is being carried out within the framework of the EFRO Oost program and is co-funded by the European Union.
