Photostable trifluoromethyl-substituted platinum(II) emitters for continuous monitoring of molecular oxygen

Three trifluoromethyl-substituted cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes were synthesized and fully characterized. The effects of trifluoromethyl substituents on the photoluminescence, redox properties, and oxygen sensing behavior of the platinum complexes are investigated systematically. The photo-degradation test showed that the introduction of a trifluoromethyl substituent could improve the oxidation potentials and photo-luminescence quantum yields of Pt(II) complexes effectively and subsequently reduce photo-bleaching. All the trifluoromethyl substituted Pt(II) complexes immobilized in IMPES-C are sensitive to molecular oxygen with the capacity to detect molecular oxygen at different concentrations. The optical signals of oxygen sensing show a high operational stability in 13 to 16 cycles in 4000 s. These systems are promising for online continuous monitoring of molecular oxygen.