Platinum probes form a key component of a new type of luminescent water-soluble paint that can measure pressure and temperature simultaneously, Chemistry World reports.

A crucial part of aerodynamic research involving planes and cars is the ability to visualise pressure and temperature distribution during wind tunnel testing.

Otto Wolfbeis and colleagues at Germany's University of Regensberg believe they have made a major step forward with their use of platinum (II) porphyrin probes.

The probes, which are capable of detecting oxygen partial pressure and therefore barometric pressure, were made water-soluble by placing them into polymer core-shell nanoparticles.

They are then bound with temperature-sensitive oxygen impermeable polymer microparticles, which are dyed with a luminescent complex of another pgm, iridium (II).

Both indicator probes are capable of strong and even adhesion on aluminium surfaces and can be excited with the use of LEDs or diode lasers emitting at a wavelength of 405nm.

"Dual-sensing technology already exists, but no-one's done it like this before - this is a really innovative way of making pressure-sensitive paints," Robert Crutchley, an expert in oxygen-sensing thin films at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, told the news provider.

Mr Wolfbeis revealed that he now intends to improve the response time of the probes by negating the impact of the rate of diffusion of oxygen through the polymer sphere.

He said: "The automobile industry wants sensors with a response time in the order of milliseconds. Currently we can achieve a response time of just under one second."

Source:

Dual sensing spray-on wash-off paints (18/03/10)

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