Towards fiber optic chemical sensors for 1,3-butadiene detection in Titan's hydrocarbon lakes
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Fiber optic chemical sensors (FOCS) can be rapidly integrated in future instrument suites for in-situ extraterrestrial chemical characterizations. At low development and deployment costs, they can complement the analysis of more capable instruments. The contribution of FOCS can best be exemplified by the detection of 1,3-butadiene in Titan. This analyte is an unsaturated hydrocarbon of relevance for Titan's atmospheric chemistry and geology, but its detection poses challenges for current spectroscopy and mass spectrometry space instruments. Here, we report the design of the sensing core of a future space-mission-ready FOCS tailored to detect 1,3-butadiene in Titan's hydrocarbon environments. RESULTS: ) and a linear response up to the expected saturation concentration in Titan's lakes. Furthermore, the fast and irreversible reaction between the tetrazine indicator and 1,3-butadiene provides rapid sensor responses that increase with temperature. Operating the sensor at high temperatures also mitigates competing photobleaching reactions. The immobilization of the indicator in polystyrene membranes maintained its detection capability for 1,3-butadiene dissolved in hexane, an apolar solvent analogous to Titan's hydrocarbon lakes. SIGNIFICANCE: The demonstration of the solid-state functionality of the indicator marks the last step towards its integration with space-qualified instrumentation. This proof-of-principle detection of 1,3-butadiene highlights the potential of fluorescence sensing for probing exotic planetary environments. Fiber optic architectures are ideal platforms for adapting fluorescence-based chemical sensing strategies to the in-situ characterization of extraterrestrial sites.
Source: Analytica Chimica Acta
Authors: Diogo Gonçalves, Cláudia Ribeiro, João P.C. Tomé, Bruno Pedras, Zita Martins
Language: English
Subfield: Bioengineering
Field: Chemical Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,270
Awards: Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências, Instituto de Ciências Moleculares, Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências, Theranostic bioconjugates for NIR bio-imaging and molecular-target in photodynamic therapy, G6138576743, Instituto para a Saúde e a Bioeconomia, Centro de Química Estrutural
OpenAlex ID: W4416999307