A fluorescent fiber pH sensor for sensitive, wide-range detection using orange-emitting silicon quantum dots.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Accurate pH monitoring is crucial for biochemical analysis.
• Existing methods for online pH analysis in biological and environmental fluids are limited.
• There is a need for robust and sensitive pH sensors for diverse fluid environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fluorescent fiber sensor for real-time, wide-range pH monitoring.
• To create a sensor with high stability, repeatability, and reversibility.
• To validate the sensor's performance in complex biological and environmental fluid samples.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a fluorescent fiber pH sensor by immobilizing silicon quantum dots onto a tapered fiber probe.
• Utilizing a photoinduced hydrogel polymerization technique for sensor creation.
• Testing the sensor's response across a wide pH range (3.0-12.0) and evaluating its stability, repeatability, and reversibility.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor demonstrated a specific response to pH variations with a wide dynamic range (pH 3.0-12.0) and high resolution (0.06/pH).
• The sensor exhibited excellent stability, repeatability, robustness, and reversibility.
• The sensor showed high stability against ion strength and temperature fluctuations.
• Successful detection of pH levels in real serum, artificial sweat, and seawater samples validated its practicality.

Conclusions:

• The fluorescent fiber sensor provides a sensitive and reliable tool for real-time pH sensing in complex fluid environments.
• The sensor's versatility and stability make it suitable for various physiological and environmental monitoring applications.
• This technology holds significant potential for advancing biochemical analysis and environmental monitoring.