Carboxylic-functionalized water soluble pi-conjugated polymer: highly selective and efficient chemosensor for mercury(II) ions

TitleCarboxylic-functionalized water soluble pi-conjugated polymer: highly selective and efficient chemosensor for mercury(II) ions
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsBalamurugan, A, Reddy, MLP, Jayakannan, M
JournalJournal of Polymer Science Part A-Polymer Chemistry
Volume47
Issue19
Pagination5144-5157
Date PublishedOCT
ISSN0887-624X
Keywordsconjugated polymer, pH sensitive, photophysical studies, sensing, synthesis, water soluble
Abstract

Here, we report a new carboxylic-functionalized water soluble pi-conjugated polymer for selective detection of highly toxic Hg(2+) in neutral pH condition. carboxylic-functionalized thiophene containing oligophenylenevinylene was synthesized and polymerized under oxidative route to obtain water soluble polymer. Free carboxylic groups present in the pi-conjugated materials provide opportunity to use pH as external stimuli for studying secondary interaction such as hydrogen bonding and aromatic pi-stacking of the chromophores. The pH changes strongly influence on the molecular interactions in the monomer, whereas the long chain polymer was less disturbed. The polymer showed high selectivity for detecting Hg(2+) ions compared with any other transition metal ions in water. The detection efficiency of the polymer was found almost 40 times higher than that of its monomeric unit. Stern-Volmer constant for the Hg(2+) ion sensing was determined through concentration dependent studies as 6.4 x 10(5) M(-1). The carboxylic-functionalized polymer showed reversibility in the metal-ion detecting capabilities which was further investigated by NaCl complexation with Hg(2+) complex. Both funneling of excitation energy to the Hg(2+) center and also excitation energy migration through chain pi-conjugated backbone were correlated to the superior sensing characteristics of the polymer compared to its monomeric counterpart. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5144-5157, 2009

DOI10.1002/pola.23566
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)Foreign
Impact Factor (IF)3.894
Divison category: 
Polymer Science & Engineering