Photophysics and oxygen sensing properties of tetraphenylporphyrin lanthanide complexes

Absorption and phosphorescence emission spectra of complexes of lutetium(III) and gadolinium(III) with tetraphenylporphyrin in ethanol solutions and in thin films of polytretbutylmethacrylate, polystyrene and methylcellulose are studied. The complexes were photoexcited at 420 nm and display room temperature phosphorescene with a maxima at 780 nm that is quenched by molecular oxygen at room temperature. This quenching effect was exploited to optically sense oxygen. The response time is 1.0–1.2 s, and the detection limit is 0.05% of oxygen.

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► Spectral-luminescent properties of lanthanide porphyrins in solution and film are reported.
► Luminescence in polymer films is oxygen depended.
► Lanthanide porphyrin-doped films are new agents for the optical detection of oxygen.
► New sensor materials with high sensitivity and short response time.