REICHARDT'S DYE AS OPTOCHEMICAL SENSOR MATERIALS DETECTED POLAR GAS

A sensor that can detect polar gases was developed based on Reichardt's solvatochromic dye. The Reichardt's dye was incorporated into PVP (polyvinyl pryrolidone) and then was fabricated into sensing films. The sensing film can produce strong, fast and reversibly signals when it exposed to polar gases, with response time in the range of 5-20 seconds. High-resolution micrographs of the sensing film in different polar gases were obtained by using a digital camera. Using the high-resolution micrographs, a concentration as low as 0.05% (v/v) methanol gas can be detected. This detection is completely reversible under any vapor concentrations.