Nanocomposites Containing Neutral Blue Emitting Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Emitters for Oxygen Sensing

The behavior toward oxygen sensing of nanocomposites made of the aluminum oxide-hydroxide nanostructured solid support (AP200/19) and neutral blue emitting cyclometalated iridium­(III) complexes was studied. The results are compared with the same dyes immobilized in polystyrene films. Since the photoluminescence of the complexes is totally quenched for oxygen concentrations just over 10%, these systems using the blue region of the visible spectrum are promising for oxygen detection at low concentration. In particular, dyes supported into the AP200/19 provide the best sensitivity to oxygen concentration, with the possibility to detect oxygen below 1% O2 in gas (0.01 bar).