Electrospinning fibrous films doped with iridium complexes for high performance oxygen sensing: Synthesis and characterization

Abstract

This work was devoted to three Ir(III) complexes having large conjugation planes and various numbers of fluorine substituents for optical oxygen sensing purpose. These F atoms might broaden electronic distribution of excited electrons and increase their decay lifetime, hoping to increase sensing collision probability of excited electrons with O2 molecules. These Ir(III) complexes were analyzed by single crystal analysis and density functional theory calculation. Photophysical measurement suggested that their phosphorescent emission was quenchable by O2 gas. By doping these Ir(III) complexes into fibrous films through electrospinning method, their oxygen sensing performance was explored. The presence of F atoms improved oxygen sensing performance. High sensitivity (12.89), short response (8s), good stability and, more importantly, linear response were observed.