Abstract:

Optical sensors can offer advantages over electrochemical sensors with respect to reduced interferences and ease of use for remote sensing^[1]. The first fiber optic pH sensor was developed for in vivo measurements by Peterson et al^[2]. This sensor relates pH to the absorbance of the base from of an immobilized dye. Subsequently, a pH sensor based on the fluorescence of immobilized fluoreseinamine was reported. The sensor involves immobilizing the amino fluoresecein (AF) complex within a porous sol-gel-processed film. Sol-gel process has many advantages as a method of immobilization^[3]. At ambient temperature, it allows the fabrication of a tough, inert, porous glass material with a high surface area. Sol-gel technology provides a viable approach to prepare stable, optically transparent host matrices for the design of materials for sensor, optical, chromatographic^[4], and catalytic applications. Alternatively, organosilicon precursors of the general formula can be hydrolyzed and co-condensed with tetraethoxysilane to form an organic-inorganic hybrid. An aliquot of the resultant sol can be spin cast or dip coated on a planar substrate to form a thin film.