Highly sensitive detection of HCl gas using a thin film of meso-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin coated glass slide by optochemical method

The meso-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (MTPyP) deposited on glass slide by dip coating was used as a solid state sensor for HCl gas detection by optochemical method. Exposure of MTPyP coated glass slide to HCl gas results in the formation of protonated meso-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (PMTPyP). UV–vis and fluorescence spectral methods were used to study the protonation of MTPyP both in solution and on solid state. The absorption spectrum of MTPyP modified glass slide shows an intense Soret band at 427 nm, which is shifted to 470 nm upon exposure to HCl gas. The concentration of HCl gas was monitored from the absorbance changes of Soret band of PMTPyP at 470 nm. The detection limit of the solid state sensor was found to be 0.01 ppm. The recovery rate of the solid state was very fast and it was monitored by UV–vis and fluorescence techniques with successive exposure to HCl gas and ammonia vapor with nitrogen gas. The planarity and energy of the molecule have changed after exposed to HCl gas which was confirmed by ab-intio calculation using Gaussian software. The response of the solid state sensor towards HCl gas was highly stable for several months.