Feasibility studies using thin sol-gel films doped with a novel lead-selective fluorophore for optical fibre sensing applications

A feasibility study into the potential, development and characterization of a novel fluorophore for lead ion sensing is described with a view to its immobilization in a matrix support mounted at the distal end of an optical fibre probe. In light of prior work using sol-gels as appropriate matrix support in fibre optic sensors, such an approach is discussed and tests are implemented experimentally. The fluorophore-doped sol-gel probe thus created was evaluated in terms of a number of experimental parameters including the fluorophore concentration, pH, leaching, solvent environment and response to lead ions. The research carried out has shown that due to the nature of the fluorophore which undergoes conformational changes upon binding with lead ions, the sol-gel matrix does not provide the optimum environment for creating an effective fibre optic-based sensor for lead ion monitoring, prompting on-going research into this problem. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.