Solid phase-enhanced photothermal lensing with mesoporous polymethacrylate matrices for optical-sensing chemical...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Photothermal lens (PTL) detection offers high sensitivity for chemical analysis.
• Solid-phase extraction and preconcentration are crucial for trace analysis.
• Polymethacrylate (PMA) materials can be engineered for optical sensing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel photothermal lens (PTL) procedures for determining metals and organic compounds.
• To utilize solid-phase mesoporous optical-sensing materials (polymethacrylate [PMA] matrices) with immobilized reagents.
• To enhance sensitivity and efficiency in trace substance analysis.

Main Methods:

• Development of transparent mesoporous PMA plates for selective preconcentration.
• Integration of established photometric reactions for sensitive determination.
• Leveraging solid-phase-enhanced thermal lensing in PMA for sensitivity amplification.

Main Results:

• Achieved at least a ten-fold increase in sensitivity compared to solution-based PTL detection.
• Demonstrated two orders of magnitude higher sensitivity than photometric absorbance measurements in PMA matrices.
• Successfully applied modified PMA matrices for trace determination of Hg(II), Fe(II), Ag(I), Cu(II), and ascorbic acid with subnanomolar to nanomolar limits of detection.

Conclusions:

• Developed effective procedures for photothermal lens determination using PMA matrices.
• Solid-phase PTL in PMA offers significant sensitivity enhancement over solution-based methods.
• The developed method provides a sensitive and efficient platform for trace analysis of various analytes.