title: Tuning the dynamic range and sensitivity of optical oxygen-sensors by employing differently substituted polystyrene-derivatives.
abstract: Ten different polystyrene-derivatives were tested with respect to their potential use as matrix materials for optical oxygen sensors in combination with the platinum(II) meso-tetra(4-fluorophenyl)tetrabenzoporphyrin as indicator dye. Either halogen atoms or bulky residues were introduced as substituents on the phenyl ring. A fine-tuning of the sensor sensitivity was achieved, without compromising solubility of the indicator in the matrix by providing a chemical environment very similar to polystyrene (PS), a standard matrix in optical oxygen sensors. To put the results into perspective, the studied materials were compared to PS regarding sensitivity of the sensor, molecular weight and glass-transition temperature. The materials promise to be viable alternatives to PS with respect to the requirements posed in various sensor application fields. Some of the polymers (e.g. poly(2,6-dichlorostyrene)) promise to be of use in applications requiring measurements from 0 to 100% oxygen due to linearity across this range. Poly(4-tert-butylstyrene) and poly(2,6-fluorostyrene), on the other hand, yield sensors with increased sensitivity. Sensor stability was evaluated as a function of the matrix, a topic which has not received a lot of interest so far.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hutter
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Enko
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pein
authors.forename: Sergey M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Borisov
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klimant
keywords: Optical oxygen sensor; Photostability; Polymer; Polystyrene-derivatives