SPEEK Optode Retains Luminescence Decay Time for pH Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art pH-sensitive optodes lose the ability to measure pH via luminescence decay time after immobilizing the sensor dye in a polymer matrix, limiting their usefulness and preventing the simultaneous determination of pH and other chemical parameters like oxygen concentration, especially at lower pH values.
Innovation Solution
An optode using a sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) polymer matrix retains the luminescence decay time of pH-sensitive dyes, allowing for real-time pH measurement and simultaneous determination of additional chemical parameters by immobilizing multiple sensor dyes, including oxygen-sensitive and ion-sensitive dyes, enabling measurements across various pH ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor dye is immobilized in a polymer matrix, then the structural stability and reusability of the optode is improved, but the ability to measure pH via luminescence decay time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymer matrix by introducing sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) with specific functional groups that preserve the luminescence decay time properties of pH-sensitive dyes while providing structural stability. This parameter change in the matrix composition resolves the contradiction between stability and measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining SPEEK polymer matrix with pH-sensitive dyes and additional functional components. This composite material approach allows the optode to simultaneously achieve structural stability and maintain pH measurement capability through the synergistic properties of the composite components.
2Device complexity
If only a single sensor dye is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the versatility to determine multiple chemical parameters simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal optode platform where a single SPEEK matrix can accommodate multiple types of sensor dyes (pH-sensitive, oxygen-sensitive, ion-sensitive) that detect different chemical parameters. This multi-functional design allows one device to perform multiple measurement functions simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sensor dyes with different detection specificities into a single optode device, combining their functions within the SPEEK matrix. This merging enables simultaneous determination of multiple chemical parameters (pH, oxygen concentration, ion concentrations) while maintaining a unified device structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymer matrices are used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement range especially for low pH values is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the polymer matrix parameters by using sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) instead of conventional polymers. This parameter change in the matrix chemistry enables extended pH measurement capability down to lower values while maintaining ease of manufacture through straightforward immobilization procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables accurate, real-time, and simultaneous measurement of pH and other chemical parameters, reducing technical complexity and expanding the measurement range, particularly allowing pH measurements below 5, and improving the reliability of chemical parameter determination.
Implementation Method 1
the optical properties of sensor dyes, for example their luminescence, change in the presence of the substance to be detected or its chemical parameters
Implementation Method 2
The term 'luminescence' will be used in the context of the present invention as a blanket term for fluorescence and phosphorescence
Implementation Method 3
the sensor dyes are excited as far as possible at the maximum of the absorption bands and emission spectra
Implementation Method 4
The use of optodes is already state-of-the-art in determining pH and other chemical parameters such as oxygen concentration
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is related to an optode for determining chemical parameters of a sample wherein the optode consists of a polymer matrix consisting of sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) in which a sensor dye is immobilized or more than one sensor dye is immobilized, wherein at least one of the immobilized sensor dyes is pH-sensitive.In addition, the present invention also concerns a method for determining the pH of a sample in which the invention-related optode is used.