Conjugated polymers applicable to colorimetric and fluorescent anion detection

Abstract

A reliable and practical method that allows simple and rapid anion detection has been in increasing demand because anions are recognized as important analytes in diverse fields. As a candidate to satisfy the above requirements, optical anion sensors have recently attracted much attention, and thus many efforts have been made to develop materials for sensor applications. This article reviews recent progress in the design and fabrication of conjugated polymer-based anion sensors. The validity of polymer-based anion sensors has been verified through the evaluation of colorimetric and fluorescent responses for a series of conjugated polymers with different binding sites and varied pendant structures. Through rational molecular design of the sensor polymers, certain structures have been found to possess desirable anion detection abilities, including enhanced binding affinity, strict size specificity and applicability to anions in an aqueous environment. Thus, the demonstration described in this focused review could provide useful insight not only for anion detection chemistry but also for polymer and supramolecular chemistry. Because of importance of anions as analyte in diverse fields, a reliable and practical method that allows simple and rapid anion detection has been in increasing demand. To satisfy this requirement, many efforts have been made to develop optical anion sensor materials for sensor applications. This article reviews recent progress in the design and fabrication of conjugated polymer-based anion sensors. Through rational molecular design of the sensor polymers, certain structures have been found to possess desirable anion detection abilities, including enhanced binding affinity, strict size specificity and applicability to anions in an aqueous environment.