Tuning oxygen sensitivity of ruthenium complex exploiting silver nanoparticles

In this study, we utilized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) along with ionic liquids as additives for fabrication of polymeric oxygen sensitive fibers. Plasticized polymethyl methacrylate and ethyl cellulose (EC) were used as matrix materials. Fibers and porous films were produced by electrospinning technique. Oxygen induced spectral response of the fluorescent tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) chloride (Ru(bipy)(3)(2+)) was followed as the analytical signal. Utilization of silver nanoparticles in electrospun polymeric fibers for oxygen sensing purposes resulted with many advantages such as tuned sensitivity, linear calibration plot for larger concentration ranges, increased surface area and enhancement in all sensor dynamics. Linearity of the calibration plot for the offered composition was superior with respect to the previously reported ones. When stored at the ambient air of the laboratory there was no significant drift in intensity after 12 months. Our sensitivity and stability tests are still in progress. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.