title: Development and optimization of porphyrin gas sensing LB films.
abstract: A series of meso-substituted metal-free porphyrins has been developed which show high sensitivity to NO2 gas in the sub-5 ppm concentration range. By selecting different substituents, it has been possible to improve in a systematic manner the response time and sensitivity of the porphyrin LB film to NO2. Initially, a sulphonamino substituent yielded a fairly long response time of around 450 s but this was shortened considerably when this substituent was changed for a stearamido group. Further modifications resulted in achieving a porphyrin LB film which exhibited a t50 response time of only 11 s. By using an optically inert calixarene host material in which the porphyrin guest was incorporated, it was possible to obtain t50 values as low as 5 s.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK. t.richardson@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dooling
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011166:Porphyrins; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide