ENVR 190 |
| Fluorescent conjugated polymers are being actively sought as chemical sensors (chemosensors) to detect the presence of a wide variety of analytes such as Co2+, Pb2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ in biological systems and the environment. Preference is given to polymer-based chemosensors over small molecules due to their high quenching constants, high fluorescence quantum yield and the fact that their emission occurs in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Previous photophysical investigations done by our group have determined that conjugated polymers such as poly[p-(phenyleneethynylene)]) (PPE), poly[p-(phenyleneethynylene)-alt-(thienyleneethynylene)]) (PPETE), (tolylterpyridine-poly[p-(phenyleneethynylene)]) (ttp-PPE) and (tolylterpyridine-poly[p-(phenyleneethynylene)-alt-(thienyleneethynylene)]) (ttp-PPETE) are highly fluorescent in the presence of non-polar solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and chloroform. These systems are significantly quenched in the presence of transition metal cations. Our present research is focused on transitioning from the solution phase to the solid phase with these polymers while investigating the effect this transition will have on their photophysical properties.
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Recent Developments in Sensors and Sensor Networks for Contaminants in Environmental Systems
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster
Sci-Mix
Division of Environmental Chemistry |