Photoluminescent determination of oxygen using metalloporphyrin-polymer sensing systems

Optical sensors for continuous monitoring of oxygen were presented. Oxygen sensing method was based on photoluminescence quenching of platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) by oxygen. Oxygen sensing films were fabricated by incorporating PtOEP, a strong room-temperature photoluminescent dye, into polymer matrices and their sensing performances such as dynamic response characteristics and sensitivities were studied. The response time of the optical sensors strongly depends on the type of the polymer matrices and was between 10 and 100 s. The linearity of sensor response was largely improved using modified Stern-Volmer plots. The sensing films proved to be good operational stability, and no significant bleaching was observed in over 1 year in the absence of light. From the results of the preliminary test, these sensing systems were also anticipated as oxygen sensing materials applicable to aerodynamic environments. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.