Referenced luminescent sensing and imaging with digital color cameras: A comparative study

We have performed a comparative study on different imaging techniques for optical chemical sensors with the aim to assess the utility of red–green–blue (RGB) color cameras for quantitative analysis. A luminescent film for sensing barometric pressure (via quenching by oxygen) was used as a model system and calibrated by four fluorescence imaging methods including intensity imaging, referenced intensity imaging, lifetime imaging, and RGB based imaging using a customary digital color camera. The results are compared with respect to standard deviations, lateral signal homogeneity, and resolution. The imaging methods were applied to the sensor film under identical experimental conditions in order to ensure comparable results.