Optochemical sensing of hydrogen chloride gas using meso-tetramesitylporphyrin deposited glass plate

Meso-tetramesitylporphyrin (MTMP) deposited glass plate (solid state sensor) was used to sense hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas based on optochemical method. Exposure of the solid state sensor to HCl vapor results in the formation of protonated meso-tetramesitylporphyrin (PMTMP). UV–vis and fluorescence spectral techniques were used to study the protonation of MTMP in dichloromethane–methanol mixture. The optical spectra of MTMP show an intense Soret band at 418 nm with a 14 nm red shift upon protonation by HCl. Ab-initio calculations were carried out to visualize the effect of protonation on planarity and stability of the porphyrin ring. The solid state sensor was characterized by UV–vis spectral technique. The sensor exhibits characteristic Soret and Q bands for the deposited MTMP with slight red shift when compared to MTMP in dichloromethane. The concentration of gaseous HCl was monitored from the changes in the absorbance of Soret band of PMTMP at 452 nm. The detection limit of the solid state sensor towards gaseous HCl was found to be 0.03 ppm. The present solid state sensor was highly stable for several months.