title: Extruded polymer films pigmented with a heterogeneous ion-pair based lumophore for O2 sensing.
abstract: A novel approach to polymeric Ru(II)-diimine luminescent O2 sensors is described. The Ru(II)-diimine, tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) dichloride ([Ru(dpp)3](2+)), is first ion-paired to the surface of heterogeneous TiO2 particles, rendered negatively charged due to the alkali nature of the aqueous solution, to produce an O2 sensitive pigment with a strikingly high oxygen sensitivity (i.e. PO2 (S = 1/2) = 0.002 atm, where PO2 (S = 1/2) is defined as the amount of oxygen required to reduce the initial, oxygen free luminescence by 50%), and a rapid response to oxygen. The pigment is extruded in low density polyethylene (LDPE) to produce a thin (60 μm), flexible, O2 sensing plastic film, with an O2 sensitivity (PO2 (S = 1/2) = 0.84 atm) comparable to the more traditional homogeneous lumophore ion-pair based O2 sensor ink films reported in the literature.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AG, UK. andrew.mills@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D011108:Polymers; D010100:Oxygen