Phthalocyanine films as active layers of optical sensors for pentachlorophenol detection

In this work, thin films of octasubstituted zinc phthalocyanine derivative (ZnPcR8) with bulky substituents R = –CH2N(SO2C6H5–CH3)CH2(CH2)8CH3 are investigated as active layers of optical sensors for the detection of pentachlorophenol. Using total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) technique response characteristics of ZnPcR8 films to pentachlorophenol was studied in the concentration range 0.5–50 μg/l. It was demonstrated that the specific binding of pentachlorophenol molecules causes substantial shift of Δ(λ) spectrum. The minimum registered concentration of pentachlorophenol was 0.8 μg/l. The results are supported by performing attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) difference spectroscopy.