Specific Alcohol-Responsive Photonic Crystal Sensors Based on Host-Guest Recognition

A photonic crystal material based on β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with adsorption capacity is reported. The materials ((A-β-CD)-AM PC) consist of 3D poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloidal microsphere arrays and hydrogels supplemented with β-cyclodextrin modified by acryloyl chloride. The prepared materials are then utilized for VOCs gas sensing. The 3D O-(A-β-CD)-AM PC was used to detect toluene, xylene, and acetone and the response was seen as the red-shift of the reflection peak. The 3D I-(A-β-CD)-AM PC was used to detect toluene, xylene, and acetone which occurred redshifted, while methanol, ethanol, and propanol and the peaks’ red-shifting was observed. However, among these, methanol gave the largest red-shift response The sensor has broad prospects in the detection of alcohol and the detection of alcohol-loaded drug releases in the future.