Fluorescence ratiometric optical broad range pH sensor based on CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and O170 embedded in ethyl cellulose matrix

This paper presents a ratiometric optical broad range pH sensor that comprises an optical fiber coated at one end with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and Oxazine 170 perchlorate (O170) embedded in ethyl cellulose (EC) matrix. The feasibility of coating an optical fiber with the sensing film to fabricate a ratiometric fiber optic broad range pH sensor is investigated. Using an LED with a central wavelength 405 nm as an excitation light source, the CdSe/ZnS QDs shows that the emission wavelength at 575 nm highly sensitive to pH and O170 shows the emission wavelength at 655 nm insensitive to pH. The ratio of fluorescence intensities at 575 nm and 655 nm has a linear relationship with pH in the 0.9–12.2 range. The ratiometric sensing approach presented in this study has the advantage of suppressing spurious fluctuations in the intensity of the excitation source and optical transmission properties of the optical fiber sensor.