Nitrogen Dioxide Optical Sensor Based on Redox-Active Tetrazolium/Pluronic Nanoparticles Embedded in PDMS Membranes

Anthropogenic toxic vapour and gases are a worldwide threat for human health to the environment. Therefore, it is crucial develop highly sensitive devices that guarantee their rapid detection. Here, we prepared redox-switchable colloids by in-situ reduction of 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium (TTC) into triphenyl formazan (TF) stabilised with Pluronic F127 in aqueous media. The were readily embedded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) produce selective colour-switchable membrane nitrogen dioxide (NO2) We found TTC resulted production red-coloured zeta potential between −1 3 mV hydrodynamic diameters 114 305 nm as hydrophobic dispersion media at different molar concentrations. Moreover, rendered homogenous red colour gas-permeable PDMS elastomeric membrane. Once exposed NO2, began bleach after 30 s due oxidation TF undergo complete decolouration 180 s. Such features allowed integration low-cost sensing device showed high sensitivity low detection limit NO2.