An efficient technique for tuning fluorescent response of an ultrathin polymer film, which can be employed for fabrication of sensing arrays, is reported.  This technique is unique in that the modification of the optical response is obtained with polymer anchoring of a non-fluorescent polymer to a fluorescent film.  Using this approach a number of films demonstrating different fluorescent emission when exposed to solvent vapors was synthesized.  The designed method for the array generation is applicable toward surfaces made from a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials, as long as the surface of material contains functional groups reactive with epoxy moiety. Not only flat substrates but also (nano)particles, fibers, membranes can be modified with the fluorescent grafted layers. The fact that the film covalently grafted to a surface is also important, since the ultrathin fluorescent films can retain their structure after multiple swelling-deswelling cycles.

Tuning fluorescent response of ultrathin polymer film with polymer grafting

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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