Oxygen-Sensitive Phosphorescent Nanomaterials Produced from High-Density Polyethylene Films by Local Solvent-Crazing

Abstract

Discrete solid-state phosphorescent oxygen sensors produced by local solvent-crazing of high density polyethylene films are described. The simple spotting of dye solution followed by tensile drawing of the polymer substrate provides uniform nanostructures with good spatial control, effective encapsulation of dye molecules, and quenchability by O2. The dye-polymer composite sensors prepared using toluene as a solvent and stabilized by annealing at high temperature, show moderate optical signals, near-optimal sensitivity to O2 (RSD at 21 KPa 1.9%), and reproducible phosphorescence lifetime readings. Calibration experiments performed over 0-25 kPa O2 and 10-30 °C temperatures ranges reveal linear Stern-Volmer plots and temperature dependences and minimal effect of humidity on sensor calibration. The high degree of lateral and in-depth homogeneity of these O2-sensitive materials was confirmed by high-resolution atomic force and wide-field optical microscopy, including 2D and 3D phosphorescence lifetime imaging.

The structural evolution of high-density polyethylene during crazing in liquid medium

“…Therefore, polymer crazing in liquid media may be considered as a http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.03.003 0014-3057/Ó 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. method for obtaining nanoporous materials (membranes and sorbents) and as a process for producing nanocomposites and highly disperse polymer-polymer blends [22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

Long-wavelength analyte-sensitive luminescent probes and optical (bio)sensors

“…Due to much better BS compared to conventional indicators the new dyes proved to be promising for application in planar optodes and fiber-optic sensors (mainly based on polystyrene and its derivatives). These sensors were used for measurement of oxygen solubility in organic solvents [55], online measurement of antioxidant activity using a capillary-based sensor coupled to an HPLC system [56], imaging of oxygen dynamics of symbiotic cyanobacterium Prochloron [57], luminescence imaging of physiological wound oxygenation [58], ultrafast measurement of oxygen flux with fiber-optic microsensors [59], preparation of structured materials for food packaging applications [60]. In vitro experiments using simulated subcutaneous read-out demonstrated superiority of the new sensors over those based on UV–vis indicators which were found to be virtually useless due to the dramatic signal loss [54].…”

Stability and Safety Assessment of Phosphorescent Oxygen Sensors for Use in Food Packaging Applications

“…To be usable and viable in large scale applications such as food packaging, O 2 sensors should be simple, scalable, reproducible, stable and cost less than 1 cent each [17]. We have recently reported that non-woven polyolefin fabric materials (polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) based), as well as poly(phenylene sulphide) films (PPS) can be used as simple polymer host and support materials, which allow fabrication of simple and robust O 2 sensors by solvent crazing [18,19] and polymer swelling [20] methods. These food-compatible polymer materials possess many desirable qualities, such as gas permeability, process ability, simple composition and uniformity, storage stability and low cost.…”