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Porphycene Protonation: A Fast and Reversible Reaction Enabling Optical Transduction for Acid Sensing
Author(s) -
Bossi Alberto,
Waluk Jacek,
Yivlialin Rossella,
Penconi Marta,
Campione Marcello,
Bussetti Gianlorenzo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemphotochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2367-0932
DOI - 10.1002/cptc.202000142
Subject(s) - opacity , annealing (glass) , protonation , intramolecular force , hydrochloric acid , photochemistry , chromatic scale , thin film , chemistry , molecule , deposition (geology) , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , optics , physics , ion , paleontology , sediment , composite material , biology
Nano‐sensor materials, especially if they target biological purposes, require fine control and tuning of the properties at the molecular scale when intramolecular properties have to be exploited, for example, in optical sensors. By means of optical spectroscopies (namely, spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, and surface differential reflectivity), we demonstrate that thin films of porphycene show a spectacular chromatic change when exposed to acid vapors (specifically to hydrochloric acid). After exposure, the original optical properties of the porphycene films are recovered within a few seconds and without any thermal annealing. In addition, since clear spectroscopic signatures are observed both in absorption and in reflectivity, the parent porphycene is shown to be suitable even for deposition of films onto opaque substrates. These findings are of significant interest in view of potential engineering of the molecules and implementation in devices.