Work

Detection of Particulate Matter With Lock‐In Thermography

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Ultrafine particles (UFPs), particularly black carbon (BC), are major contributors to air pollution, climate change, and health risks. Conventional quantification techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Raman Spectroscopy, while effective, suffer from limitations in real‐time analysis, sample representativeness, and scalability. Lock‐in thermography (LIT) has emerged as a promising alternative, offering enhanced sensitivity and real‐time monitoring for nanoparticle detection. In this study, we employ LIT to quantify black carbon. Two measurement configurations—transmission and reflection mode—are utilized to assess spatial distribution and concentration dependence of BC particles collected on filter substrates. Our results demonstrate a strong correlation between measured thermal signals and reference concentrations, confirming LIT's precision in quantifying BC with high reproducibility. The imaging capability further reveals non‐homogeneous particle deposition patterns, which would be challenging to capture using conventional point‐based techniques. These findings establish LIT as a viable tool for real‐time BC quantification in environmental monitoring and industrial applications, overcoming the constraints of traditional measurement approaches.

Source: CleanMat.

DOI: 10.1002/clem.70030

Authors: Alina Oetsen, Christoph Geers, Andreas Traube, Gunter Festel, Daniel Fehr, Mathias Bonmarin

Institution: ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Thermography and Photoacoustic Techniques

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,900