Fabrication and Characterization of Dye-Based Thin Films as Fluorescent Sensor for Formic Acid
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Simon Rondeau-Gagne
Proposal
Formic acid is a hazardous organic acid that causes health effects, including skin and eye irritation. The development of formic acid sensors can be used in medicine and industry to protect the worker’s health while minimizing the likelihood of metal corrosion. Research has shown the importance of formic acid detection in maintaining the safety of food and environment. Fluorescence spectroscopy is certainly one of the most promising and versatile techniques for sensitive detection and quantification of targeted molecules and has been used in a multitude of (bio)sensing applications. In recent literature, the high sensitivity and selectivity of ratiometric fluorescent sensors made it suitable for detecting low concentrations of formic acid. However, there challenge in using materials with fluorescent properties for the detection of formic acid is that most of them need to be performed in solution, which is not ideal for large-scale application or for detecting gaseous formic acid. To address the current challenges in formic acid sensing, the aim of this project is to develop formic acid solid-state sensors using fluorescence measurements to precisely detect the presence of formic acid both selectively and sensitively. In particular, our project focuses on azomethine derivatives processed in thin-film using gelatin as matrix. The resulting composite was shown to selectively detect formic acid at ultra-low concentration. This presentation will highlight our recent results on the preparation, characterization and application of azomethine-gelatine composites for formic acid detection. Results from multiple characterization techniques will be discussed to demonstrate the potential of this new approach for formic acid detection at various point-of-use.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Fabrication and Characterization of Dye-Based Thin Films as Fluorescent Sensor for Formic Acid
Formic acid is a hazardous organic acid that causes health effects, including skin and eye irritation. The development of formic acid sensors can be used in medicine and industry to protect the worker’s health while minimizing the likelihood of metal corrosion. Research has shown the importance of formic acid detection in maintaining the safety of food and environment. Fluorescence spectroscopy is certainly one of the most promising and versatile techniques for sensitive detection and quantification of targeted molecules and has been used in a multitude of (bio)sensing applications. In recent literature, the high sensitivity and selectivity of ratiometric fluorescent sensors made it suitable for detecting low concentrations of formic acid. However, there challenge in using materials with fluorescent properties for the detection of formic acid is that most of them need to be performed in solution, which is not ideal for large-scale application or for detecting gaseous formic acid. To address the current challenges in formic acid sensing, the aim of this project is to develop formic acid solid-state sensors using fluorescence measurements to precisely detect the presence of formic acid both selectively and sensitively. In particular, our project focuses on azomethine derivatives processed in thin-film using gelatin as matrix. The resulting composite was shown to selectively detect formic acid at ultra-low concentration. This presentation will highlight our recent results on the preparation, characterization and application of azomethine-gelatine composites for formic acid detection. Results from multiple characterization techniques will be discussed to demonstrate the potential of this new approach for formic acid detection at various point-of-use.