The quantum yields of singlet oxygen production and
lifetimes at the gas–solid interface in silica gel material
are determined. Different photosensitizers (PS) are encapsulated
in parallelepipedic xerogel monoliths (PS-SG). PS were chosen according
to their known photooxidation properties: 9,10-dicyanoanthracene
(DCA), 9,10-anthraquinone (ANT), and a benzophenone
derivative, 4-benzoyl benzoic acid (4BB). These experiments
are mainly based on time-resolved 1O2 phosphorescence detection,
and the obtained FD and tD values are compared with
those of a reference sensitizer for production, 1H-phenalen-1-
one (PN), included in the same xerogel. The trend between their
ability to oxidize organic pollutants in the gas phase and their efficiency
for production is investigated through photooxidation
experiments of a test pollutant dimethylsulfide (DMS). The
FD value is high for DCA-SG relative to the PN reference, whereas
it is slightly lower for 4BB-SG and for ANT-SG. FD is related to
the production of sulfoxide and sulfone as the main oxidation
products for DMS photosensitized oxidation. Additional mechanisms,
leading to C!S bond cleaveage, appear to mainly occur
for the less efficient singlet oxygen sensitizers 4BB-SG and ANTSG.