Inkjet-printed optical gas sensor based on metallo-phthalocyanine layers

Copper(II)-2,9,16,23-tetra-tertbutyl-29H,31H-phthalocyanine (CuTTBPc) containing inks based on different solvents and solvent mixtures are prepared. Surfactant and different polymers have been added to the ink systems in order to optimize the printing performance. Printability and printing performance have been evaluated. Furthermore the optical properties, namely absorbance in the UV/Vis range, of the printed films have been investigated in order to assess the applicability of ink jet printed phthalocyanine thin-films as transducers for optical sensors. Basic sensing experiments were performed under dynamic gas flow conditions, employing acetone and isopropanol as analytes.