An optical sensing material for trace analysis of oxygen. Metalloporphyrin dispersed in poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) film

A highly gas permeable polymer, poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (poly(TMSP)), was applied as a matrix of the optical oxygen sensor using the oxygen-induced luminescence quenching of octaethylporphyrin (OEP) platinum (PtOEP) or palladium complex (PdOEP). OEP complex was homogeneously dispersed in poly(TMSP) to give a mechanical tough film with thickness of 10 μm. The luminescence intensity of OEP complex dispersed in the poly(TMSP) films drastically decreased with an increase in oxygen concentration. The oxygen sensitivity of the film (I₀/I₁₀₀) was very high and estimated to be 225 for PtOEP and 121 for PdOEP, respectively. The Stern-Volmer constants of PtOEP and PdOEP dispersed in poly(TMSP) films are estimated to be 6.6 and 17%^-1, respectively. These results indicate that OEP metal complex dispersed in the poly(TMSP) films are novel optical sensing material for trace analysis of oxygen.