Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices

This study presents the development of zirconium polycarboxylate gel systems as substrates for advanced fluorescence sensing devices. Zirconium-based metal–organic gels (MOGs) offer a promising alternative due to the robustness of the Zr–O bond, which provides enhanced chemical stability. In this wo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jon Pascual-Colino, Garikoitz Beobide, Oscar Castillo, Javier Cepeda, Mónica Lanchas, Antonio Luque, Sonia Pérez-Yáñez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/12/783
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850049600943030272
author Jon Pascual-Colino
Garikoitz Beobide
Oscar Castillo
Javier Cepeda
Mónica Lanchas
Antonio Luque
Sonia Pérez-Yáñez
author_facet Jon Pascual-Colino
Garikoitz Beobide
Oscar Castillo
Javier Cepeda
Mónica Lanchas
Antonio Luque
Sonia Pérez-Yáñez
author_sort Jon Pascual-Colino
collection DOAJ
description This study presents the development of zirconium polycarboxylate gel systems as substrates for advanced fluorescence sensing devices. Zirconium-based metal–organic gels (MOGs) offer a promising alternative due to the robustness of the Zr–O bond, which provides enhanced chemical stability. In this work, zirconium polycarboxylate gels were synthesized using green solvents in a rapid room temperature method. Fluorescein, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, and 4,4′,4″,4‴-(porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakisbenzoic acid were incorporated as fluorophores to give the gel luminescent properties, enabling it to be used as a sensor. These fluorophores produce specific changes in the perceived color and intensity of the fluorescence emission upon interaction with different analytes in a solution, allowing a qualitative identification of different solvents and compounds. However, the fragile structure of neat gels hinders reproducible quantitative analysis of fluorescence emission. Therefore, to increase their mechanical stability during manipulation, a composite material was developed by combining the MOGs with quartz microcrystals, which proved to be a more reliable fluorescent system. The results show that the material can identify univocally different solvents and analytes in aqueous solutions by the quantitative analysis of the emission intensities. This work presents an innovative approach to create advanced fluorescence sensors with improved mechanical properties and stability using zirconium polycarboxylate gels and multiple fluorophores.
format Article
id doaj-art-25c2bb20dc524f2aacbf35fd6d208175
institution DOAJ
issn 2310-2861
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Gels
spelling doaj-art-25c2bb20dc524f2aacbf35fd6d2081752025-08-20T02:53:41ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612024-11-01101278310.3390/gels10120783Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing DevicesJon Pascual-Colino0Garikoitz Beobide1Oscar Castillo2Javier Cepeda3Mónica Lanchas4Antonio Luque5Sonia Pérez-Yáñez6Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, E-48080 Bilbao, SpainDepartment of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, E-48080 Bilbao, SpainDepartment of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, E-48080 Bilbao, SpainDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, E-20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, E-48080 Bilbao, SpainDepartment of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, E-48080 Bilbao, SpainDepartment of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, E-48080 Bilbao, SpainThis study presents the development of zirconium polycarboxylate gel systems as substrates for advanced fluorescence sensing devices. Zirconium-based metal–organic gels (MOGs) offer a promising alternative due to the robustness of the Zr–O bond, which provides enhanced chemical stability. In this work, zirconium polycarboxylate gels were synthesized using green solvents in a rapid room temperature method. Fluorescein, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, and 4,4′,4″,4‴-(porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakisbenzoic acid were incorporated as fluorophores to give the gel luminescent properties, enabling it to be used as a sensor. These fluorophores produce specific changes in the perceived color and intensity of the fluorescence emission upon interaction with different analytes in a solution, allowing a qualitative identification of different solvents and compounds. However, the fragile structure of neat gels hinders reproducible quantitative analysis of fluorescence emission. Therefore, to increase their mechanical stability during manipulation, a composite material was developed by combining the MOGs with quartz microcrystals, which proved to be a more reliable fluorescent system. The results show that the material can identify univocally different solvents and analytes in aqueous solutions by the quantitative analysis of the emission intensities. This work presents an innovative approach to create advanced fluorescence sensors with improved mechanical properties and stability using zirconium polycarboxylate gels and multiple fluorophores.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/12/783zirconiummetal–organic gelsfluorescencechemical sensor
spellingShingle Jon Pascual-Colino
Garikoitz Beobide
Oscar Castillo
Javier Cepeda
Mónica Lanchas
Antonio Luque
Sonia Pérez-Yáñez
Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices
Gels
zirconium
metal–organic gels
fluorescence
chemical sensor
title Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices
title_full Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices
title_fullStr Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices
title_full_unstemmed Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices
title_short Zirconium–Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices
title_sort zirconium polycarboxylato gel systems as substrates to develop advanced fluorescence sensing devices
topic zirconium
metal–organic gels
fluorescence
chemical sensor
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/12/783
work_keys_str_mv AT jonpascualcolino zirconiumpolycarboxylatogelsystemsassubstratestodevelopadvancedfluorescencesensingdevices
AT garikoitzbeobide zirconiumpolycarboxylatogelsystemsassubstratestodevelopadvancedfluorescencesensingdevices
AT oscarcastillo zirconiumpolycarboxylatogelsystemsassubstratestodevelopadvancedfluorescencesensingdevices
AT javiercepeda zirconiumpolycarboxylatogelsystemsassubstratestodevelopadvancedfluorescencesensingdevices
AT monicalanchas zirconiumpolycarboxylatogelsystemsassubstratestodevelopadvancedfluorescencesensingdevices
AT antonioluque zirconiumpolycarboxylatogelsystemsassubstratestodevelopadvancedfluorescencesensingdevices
AT soniaperezyanez zirconiumpolycarboxylatogelsystemsassubstratestodevelopadvancedfluorescencesensingdevices