Sol hydrolysis and condensation reaction time influence the sensitivity of class II xerogel-based sensing materials

Simplicity of preparation, a wide variety of precursors, and numerous processing variables (e.g., pH, time, temperature) are often described as attractive aspects of sol-gel derived materials. In the current work we create a series of O₂-responsive xerogel-based sensor films by simultaneously co-hydrolyzing and co-condensing tetramethylorthosilane and n-octyltriethoxysilane. Tris(4,7′-diphenyl-1,10′-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) ([Ru(dpp)₃]²⁺) is used as the O ₂-responsive luminophore. We determine the effects of [Ru(dpp) ₃]²⁺ addition time to the sol and the sol hydrolysis and condensation reaction time (H&C) on the xerogel film O₂ sensitivity. [Ru(dpp)₃]²⁺ addition time has no significant effect on the O₂ sensitivity; H&C effects the O₂ sensitivity. The highest O₂ sensitivity is seen at early H&C (0.5 h). This behavior arises because TMOS and C8-TMOS react at different rates to form sols. At early H&C the co-hydrolysis and co-condensation reactions are not complete and the so formed sols are rich in C8-TMOS in comparison to their composition at longer H&C. At longer H&C, the TMOS and C8-TMOS co-hydrolyze and co-condense more completely. SEM images show that xerogel films formed at early H&C is more porous in comparison to those formed a longer H&C. The results of these experiments: (a) highlight the importance of documenting how sols are processed and xerogels formed and (b) demonstrate the use of a single sol formulation and H&C to create suites of sensor materials with different responses.