title: Surface-structured molecular sensor for the optical detection of acidity.
abstract: In this letter, we report on the development of a surface molecular sensor for the detection of acidity. Lithographically controlled wetting deposition has been applied to form the nanostructure of a new fluorescent compound with three protonation states featuring different optical properties on a glass substrate. Atomic force microscopy demonstrates the functionalization of the surface with ordered arrays of the sensor molecules. The fluorescence properties of the resulting nanopattern at different pH values have been investigated by confocal fluorescene microsopy, thus revealing the fast, sensitive, reversible response of the prepared nanosensor to gas flows of varying acidity.
authors.affiliation: Institut Català de Nanotecnologia, Esfera UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain, Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (CSIC), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Otero
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evangelio
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alibés
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bourdelande
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Molina
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Busqué
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernando