Gas Phase Sensors for Bases Using Rhodamine B in Nafion Films
Eunhae Hwang, Igor A. Levitsky, William B. Euler, J. Applied Polym. Sci., 2010, 116, 2425 – 2432
Abstract
A sensor and dosimeter specific to inorganic and organic amine bases composed of Rhodamine B dissolved in Nafion is prepared and evaluated. UV-vis, emission, and IR spectroscopies are used to monitor the presence of a variety of analytes, including aliphatic and aromatic amines. The Rhodamine B serves as a visual indicator of the presence of an analyte by turning from brown to pink upon exposure to aliphatic amines after sufficient exposure, thus acting as a visual monitor. The Rhodamine B also acts as a fluorescent sensor, which turns on upon exposure to the analyte. The sulfonic acid groups in the Nafion protonate the bases, giving unique signatures in the IR spectra allowing for differentiation of the bases.
