Novel Single Emissive Component Tridurylboron-TPU Solid Polymer Ratiometric Fluorescence Thermometers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Accurate microregion temperature measurements are vital for understanding environmental changes.
• Non-contact ratiometric fluorescence thermometers offer high sensitivity and resistance to interference.
• Existing polymer-based ratiometric fluorescence thermometers have limited applicability and processability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize novel tridurylboron compounds for ratiometric fluorescence thermometry.
• To investigate the temperature-responsive properties of these compounds when dispersed in thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU).
• To evaluate the performance of these novel polymer fluorescence thermometers for accurate temperature sensing.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of novel tridurylboron compounds (PPB1, PPB2, PPB3).
• Dispersion of synthesized compounds in thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU).
• Characterization of temperature-responsive ratiometric fluorescence properties, including spectral shifts and sensitivity measurements.

Main Results:

• The synthesized tridurylboron compounds exhibited significant temperature-responsive ratiometric fluorescence in TPU.
• The PPB1-TPU system showed a 41 nm fluorescence peak redshift from -10°C to 60°C, with color change from blue to green.
• High absolute sensitivity (14.5%°C⁻¹) and relative sensitivity (6.3%°C⁻¹) were achieved, surpassing existing solid polymer thermometers.
• Adjustable temperature-responsive ranges were demonstrated by modifying polymer substrates and substituents.

Conclusions:

• Novel tridurylboron compounds integrated into TPU form robust, interference-resistant polymer fluorescence thermometers.
• These thermometers exhibit high sensitivity and tunable temperature ranges, suitable for various applications.
• The developed tridurylboron-TPU systems show great potential for practical applications, including in aqueous environments and complex device fabrication.