High-performance oxygen sensors based on Eu(III) complex/polystyrene composite nanofibrous membranes prepared by electrospinning

• Published in: Chemphyschem 2011-02, Vol.12 (2), p.349-355
• Main Authors: Wang, Yinghui, Li, Bin, Zhang, Liming, Zuo, Qinghui, Li, Peng, Zhang, Jun, Su, Zhongmin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1439-7641
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201000884

An optical oxygen sensor based on an Eu(III) complex/polystyrene (PS) composite nanofibrous membrane is prepared by electrospinning. The emission intensity of [Eu(TTA)(3) (phencarz)] (TTA=2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate, phencarz=2-(N-ethylcarbazolyl-4)imidazo[4,5-f]1,10-phenanthroline) decreases with increasing oxygen concentration, and thus the [Eu(TTA)(3) (phencarz)]/PS composite nanofibrous membranes can be used as an optical oxygen-sensing material based on emission quenching caused by oxygen. Elemental analysis, UV/Vis absorption spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy, luminescence-intensity quenching Stern-Volmer plots, and excited-state decay analysis are used to characterize the obtained oxygen-sensing materials. A high sensitivity (I(N2) /I(O2)) of 3.38 and short response and recovery times (t(↓) =5.0, t(↑) =8.0 s) are obtained. These results are the best values reported for oxygen sensors based on Eu(III) complexes. The high surface area-to-volume ratio and porous structure of the electrospun nanofibrous membranes are taken to be responsible for the outstanding performance.