Optical sensing schemes for Prussian Blue/Prussian White film system Original Research Article

Optical chemical sensing schemes exploiting redox properties of Prussian Blue/Prusian White film system are reported. Transparent, thin film composed of Prussian Blue and N-substituted polypyrrole was chemically deposited on non-conducting polyester foil. The process of the film formation is induced and accelerated by UV radiation. The film is robust, crack-free and strongly adheres to the plastic support. The film was used as a receptor part of a flow-through detector cell. All spectrophotometric measurements were performed at the wavelength of 720 nm, i.e. at the absorption maximum of the Prussian Blue film. The Prussian Blue/Prussian White film sensor system exhibits excellent operational stability and long shelf-life. The Prussian Blue film is shown to be suitable for optical determination of selected strong reductants. Also potential application of the film for optical determination of alkali cations involved in the redox process is shown. In situ generated Prussian White film is mechanically stable, however, can be easily oxidized to Prussian Blue form. This feature of the Prussian White film can be applied for optical determination of various oxidants. It was also shown that the presented detector cell is useful for optical determination of redox species in non-transparent, turbid samples. The Prussian Blue/Prussian White film redox system offers a new approach to near-infrared optical sensing applications.