Fluorescence properties of some triazene polyacrylates for possible sensor applications

Abstract

We report here a first study on the capacity of the triazene chromophore attached to a polymeric backbone to present fluorescence properties. The sensing ability of two triazene copolymers poly[l-(phenyl)-3-(2 acryloyloxyethyl)-3- methyl triazene-1-co-methyl methacrylate] (TCP-1) and poly[l-(paramethoxy- phenyl)-3-(2 acryloyloxyethyl)-3-methyl triazene-1-co-methyl methacrylate] (TCP-2) in dimethylformamide (DMF) has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy in tandem with a quenching experiments using a variety of metal ions (Fe3+, Fe2, Cu2+ and Cu+), which suggests that these triazene polymers could find practical applications for detection of metal ions. The emission spectra exhibited strong fluorescence emissions at 375nm (TCP-1) and 410nm (TCP-2) respectively, while the ability of Fe3+, Fe2+, Cu2+ and Cu+ to quench the fluorescence of the triazene fluorophore has been explained on the basis of energy transfer processes involving the triazene excited state and the metal ion. The corresponding Stern-Volmer representations for all fluorescence emission spectra were also described. © 2009 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.