Synthesis, characterization and oxygen sensitivity of cyclophosphazene equipped-iridium (III) complexes.

Abstract

In this work, synthesis, characterization and oxygen sensing abilities of the cyclophosphazene-free and phenyl and naphtoxy-substituted cyclophosphazene bearing iridium (III) complexes (Ir-I, Ir-II and Ir-III) were presented. The complexes were characterized by NMR, absorption and emission spectroscopies, luminescence lifetime and quantum yield measurements. The molecules were successfully embedded in the ethyl cellulose matrix to fabricate the oxygen sensing electrospun mats via electrospinning technique. Oxygen induced luminescence of the iridium complexes around 600nm has been followed as the analytical signal during oxygen sensitivity studies. They exhibited blue shifted, quenched emission towards triplet oxygen. The napthoxy substituted derivative exhibited 2.70 fold enhanced I0/I100 ratio compared to the free form in terms of the relative signal change. Room-temperature luminescence abilities, high photostabilities, large Stoke's shift values extending to 200nm and high spectral response, especially between 0 and 10% pO2 make them promising candidates as oxygen probes. The test materials can be stored at the ambient air of the laboratory for at least 24months.