Films for detecting fluoride

1. A film for detecting fluoride, the film comprising:

an organic matrix; and

a lipophilic aluminum compound including an aluminum metal ion center incorporated within the organic matrix, the lipophilic aluminum compound adapted to selectively bind with fluoride ions via a binding interaction between the aluminum metal ion center and the fluoride ions, the fluoride being detectable through optical or electrochemical detection of the binding interaction, the lipophilic aluminum compound selected from the group consisting of aluminum(III)octaethylporphyrins, chloro-aluminum(III)Salen, aluminum(III)tetraryl porphyrins, aluminum(III)octaalkyl porphyrins, and aluminum(III)picket fence porphyrins.

2. The film as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an additive adapted to transduce an optical signal or enhance an electrochemical signal, the additive being incorporated within the organic matrix.

3. The film as defined in claim 2 wherein the fluoride is detectable through optical detection, and the additive comprises a lipophilic pH chromoionophore, the chromoionophore adapted to transduce to an optical signal the binding of fluoride to the aluminum compound.

4. The film as defined in claim 1 wherein the organic matrix is a polymeric matrix.

5. The film as defined in claim 1 wherein the organic matrix includes organic solvents, polymers, plasticizers, or combinations thereof.

6. The film as defined in claim 1 wherein the lipophilic aluminum compound is selected from the group consisting of chloro-aluminum(III)octaethylporphyrins, aluminum(III)tetraphenyl porphyrins, substituted aluminum(III)tetraphenyl porphyrins, aluminum(III)octadecyl porphyrins, aluminum(III)octadodecyl porphyrins, and aluminum(III)5,10,15,20-tetrakis(o-pivalamidophenyl)porphyrin.

7. The film as defined in claim 1 wherein selectivity of the film, during optical detection, toward the fluoride ions over sulfate ions, chloride ions, nitrate ions, nitrite ions, and bromide ions is log k opt F,x<−5, and wherein selectivity of the film, during optical detection, toward the fluoride ions over lipophilic anions is log k opt F,x <−4.

8. The film as defined in claim 1 wherein ΔEMF in mV of the film during electrochemical detection of the fluoride ions has a more selective negative increase as compared to the sulfate ions, chloride ions, nitrate ions, nitrite ions, bromide ions, and lipophilic ions, as a log of the anion tends toward zero.

9. A film for optically detecting fluoride, the film comprising:

an organic matrix;

a lipophilic aluminum compound including an aluminum metal ion center incorporated within the organic matrix, the lipophilic aluminum compound adapted to selectively bind with fluoride ions via a binding interaction between the aluminum metal ion center and the fluoride ions, the lipophilic aluminum compound selected from the group consisting of aluminum(III)octaethylporphyrins, chloro-aluminum(III)Salen, aluminum(III)tetraryl porphyrins, aluminum(III)octaalkyl porphyrins, and aluminum(III)picket fence porphyrins; and

a lipophilic pH chromoionophore incorporated within the organic matrix, the chromoionophore adapted to transduce the binding interaction to an optical signal.

10. The film as defined in claim 9 wherein the organic matrix is a polymeric matrix.

11. The film as defined in claim 9 wherein the organic matrix includes organic solvents, polymers, plasticizers, or combinations thereof.

12. The film as defined in claim 9 wherein the lipophilic aluminum compound is chloro-Al(III)Salen and wherein the film is a single-use film.

13. A method of making a sensor for optically detecting fluoride, the method comprising:

incorporating a lipophilic aluminum compound including an aluminum metal ion center into an organic matrix, the lipophilic aluminum compound adapted to selectively bind with fluoride ions via a binding interaction between the aluminum metal ion center and the fluoride ions, and the fluoride being detectable through optical or electrochemical detection of the binding interaction, the lipophilic aluminum compound selected from the group consisting of aluminum(III)octaethylporphyrins, chloro-aluminum(III)Salen, aluminum(III)tetraryl porphyrins, aluminum(III)octaalkyl porphyrins, and aluminum(III)picket fence porphyrins; and

dissolving the organic matrix having the aluminum compound therein in a solvent.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 , further comprising establishing the solvent containing the dissolved organic matrix on a substrate.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of quartz slides, quartz plates, glass slides, glass plates, distal ends of optical fibers, microfabricated sensor arrays, microfluidic platforms, and combinations thereof.

16. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the organic matrix further includes an additive adapted to transduce an optical signal or enhance an electrochemical signal.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the fluoride is detectable through optical detection, and the additive comprises a lipophilic pH chromoionophore, the chromoionophore adapted to transduce to an optical signal the binding of fluoride to the aluminum compound.

18. The method as defined in claim 13 , further comprising establishing the solvent containing the dissolved organic matrix between two aqueous phases.

19. A sensor for detecting fluoride, the sensor comprising:

an organic matrix; and

a lipophilic aluminum compound including an aluminum metal ion center incorporated within the organic matrix, thereby forming a film, the lipophilic aluminum compound adapted to selectively bind with fluoride ions via a binding interaction between the aluminum metal ion center and the fluoride ions, the fluoride being detectable through optical or electrochemical detection of the binding interaction, the lipophilic aluminum compound selected from the group consisting of aluminum(III)octaethylporphyrins, chloro-aluminum(III)Salen, aluminum(III)tetraryl porphyrins, aluminum(III)octaalkyl porphyrins, and aluminum(III)picket fence porphyrins;

wherein the film is adapted to be established on a substrate or between two aqueous phases.

20. The sensor as defined in claim 19 , further comprising an additive adapted to transduce an optical signal or enhance an electrochemical signal, the additive being incorporated within the organic matrix.

21. The sensor as defined in claim 20 wherein the fluoride is detectable through optical detection, and the additive comprises a lipophilic pH chromoionophore, the chromoionophore adapted to transduce to an optical signal the binding of fluoride to the aluminum compound.

22. The sensor as defined in claim 19 wherein the organic matrix is a polymeric matrix.

23. The sensor as defined in claim 19 wherein the organic matrix includes organic solvents, polymers, plasticizers, or combinations thereof.

24. The sensor as defined in claim 19 wherein the lipophilic aluminum compound is chloro-Al(III)Salen and wherein the sensor is a single-use device.