A new sensing material for optical oxygen measurement,with the indicator embedded in an aqueous phase

A new type of oxygen-sensitive material is obtained by preparing an aqueous emulsion of a solution of an oxygen-sensitive fluorescent dye in a rigid polymer. The fluorescence of this emulsion is related to the oxygen partial pressure, but a Stern-Volmer plot is not linear over the whole pressure range. Aside from high sensitivity and specificity for oxygen, this new type of sensing material has favorable analytical wavelengths allowing the use of low-cost opto-electronic equipment. Since the indicator is embedded in an aqueous environment, the sensor should be capable of monitoring various kinds of reactions occurring in the aqueous phase, for instance enzymatic reactions which are accompanied by production or consumption of oxygen.