Ammonia-sensing properties of acridine immobilized in SiO2 sol-gel films

Abstract

The spectral and luminescent properties of acridine in SiO2 films synthesized by the sol-gel method using acid hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane are studied. It is shown that acridine in films exists in protonated form. Ammonia-gas-sensing properties of films doped with acridine are studied by the fluorescence response (decrease in the intensity) of the protonated form. The possibility of multiple use of a sample without a noticeable decrease in its sensitivity is demonstrated. It is shown that the fluorescence response to a maximal permissible concentration of ammonia in the gas mixture with argon is 6–8%.