Preparation and spectroscopic characterization of silica aerogels doped with metal porphyrin complexes

CHED 270

Shazia Baig1, Caleb W. Wattley2, Ann M. Anderson, andersoa@union.edu2, and Mary K. Carroll, carrollm@union.edu1. (1) Department of Chemistry, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308, (2) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308
Aerogels, the lightest known materials, have highly porous microstructures, which render them useful in a variety of applications, including insulation, collection of comet dust, and as platforms for chemical sensors. We prepare luminescent-probe-doped silica aerogels via a novel rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE) method, in which gelation and extraction of solvent occurs in a contained mold in a hydraulic hot press. The probe is introduced in the precursor mixture and becomes trapped within the resultant silica matrix. Aerogels doped with platinum(II) octaethylporphine (PtOEP) have oxygen sensing capability, but limited photostability. The use of oxygen-sensitive copper(II) octaethylporphine (CuOEP) has not been fully explored, in part because of its relatively low solubility. The goal of this project is to produce PtOEP- and CuOEP-doped silica RSCE aerogels and compare their suitability as oxygen sensors. We will present luminescence spectra and decay curves, as well as Stern-Volmer plots, for these materials.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Analytical Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008