Development of a broadband cavity enhanced UV-LED spectrometer for the detection of atmospheric HONO and NO2

An incoherent broadband cavity enhanced UV-LED spectrometer (IBBCEAS) was developed to detect atmospheric HONO and NO2. Using a UV light emitting diode (LED) operating at similar to 366 nm in combination with a high finesse optical cavity, HONO and NO2 were able to be simultaneously measured with high sensitivity. Detection limits (for SNR=1) of 0.3 ppbv for HONO and 1 ppbv for NO2 were achieved with an optimum acquisition time of 120 s. Stability of the developed cavity enhanced UV-LED spectrometer has been characterized by means of an Allan variance analysis. Daytime and nighttime concentrations of atmospheric HONO and NO2 were measured and compared with data from LOPAP for HONO and blue light converter-based NOx analyzer for NO2. The present work performed in a real atmospheric environment demonstrates the feasibility of using IBBCEAS technique for interference (chemical and spectral) free measurement of HONO. Experimental detail will be presented, the problems encountered during the real atmospheric measurement will be discussed.