The combination of spiropyrans with polymers has been applied in areas such as photo-controlled surface wettability, memory devices and chemical sensors. Spiropyrans are photochromic compounds which are prone to photo-degradation over time.  For the specific application of spiropyrans in chemical sensors, further understanding and control of the photo-degradation process would improve chemical sensor stability, a non-trivial issue when considering environmental monitoring applications where sensors need to be in situ for several weeks or months.  The impact of having spiropyran molecules incorporated within highly cross-linked, rigid polymer matrixes used for metal ion detection is the focus of this work.  Results will be presented regarding the impact of increased polymer rigidity on the photo-degradation of the spiropyran polymer, as well as the impact on the ability of the spiropyran polymers to detect metal ions.

Impact of polymer cross-linking on spiropyran-based sensors

244th National Meeting (2012)

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