Tracking a photo-switchable surface-localised supramolecular interaction via refractive index

As supramolecular chemistry evolves, from the design of interactions in the solution and the solid state to applications at surfaces, there is a need for the development of analytical techniques capable of directly interrogating surface-localised supramolecular interactions. We present a proof-of-concept integrated optical Bragg grating sensor, capable of evanescently detecting small changes in refractive index at infrared wavelengths within a microfluidic system. The high spectral fidelity of the Bragg gratings combined with precise thermal compensation enables direct monitoring of the surface throughout the experiment, enabling the sensor to probe changes in situ and in real-time during surface preparation and chemical modification, and then to follow the progress of a dynamic surface-localised supramolecular interaction. In this study the sensor is assessed through the investigation of a photoswitchable inclusion complex between an azobenzene-functionalised surface and cyclodextrin in aqueous solution. The ability to investigate supramolecular interactions directly in real-time upon a planar surface via refractive index offers a valuable new tool in the understanding of complex dynamic supramolecular systems.