Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) is transforming modern spectroscopy by enabling rapid and high-resolution analysis of molecular species. Frequency combs (FCs) based on semiconductor devices, such as QCLs, are of particular interest in this emerging field. These chip-scale, electrically pumped devices provide high optical power in the mid-infrared and terahertz frequency regions, which makes them highly promising for portable frequency comb spectrometers, suitable for applications ranging from material characterization to trace gas detection. Our research efforts focus on enhancing the capabilities of QCLs by improving spectral precision, temporal resolution, and noise stabilization. We develop strategies to establish an absolute frequency scale. These ongoing developments aim to develop even more compact and efficient systems that can be deployed in a wider range of environments, from field-based environmental monitoring to in-situ industrial process control.