Production and characterization of new Fe(TPP)Cl porphyrin films with improved optical gas sensing capabilities

摘要

Thin porphyrin assemblies, widely used as sensing materials in different kinds of transducers, are usually produced through chemical deposition techniques. In this work novel 5,10,15,20 meso-tetraphenyl porphyrin (Fe(TPP)CI) films have been deposited by means of a new physical technique named glow discharge induced sublimation (CDS). A preliminary morphological characterization has been performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM): SEM images and highlight the great surface roughness and the high purity of GDS films with respect to films deposited by means of conventionally used procedures (e.g. spin coating (SPIN)) ones. Optical sensing measurements, performed in differently concentrated ethyl alcohol (EtOH) atmospheres, highlight that GDS samples yield higher response intensities than SPIN films, very fast responses and complete recovery.