We developed a colorimetric and fluorescent turn-on carbon dioxide sensor based on polydiacetylene, PDA-1, functionalized with amines and imidazolium groups. Our sensor design relies on the reaction of CO2 with alkylamines attached to imidazolium PDA to induce the blue-to-red phase change. Tethered primary amines react with CO2 to form carbamoate anions in the presence of an external base. Generated carbamoate anions partially neutralize the polymer's positive charges, inducing changes to backbone conformation and phase transition. PDA-1 allows for the selective sensing of CO2 with high sensitivity, down to atmospheric concentrations. Naked-eye detection of CO2 is accomplished both in water solutions of PDA-1 and in the solid state with electrospun coatings of PDA-1 nanofibers. Moreover, the photophysical characteristics of PDA-1 allow for the fluorimetric naked-eye detection of CO2 using widely available battery-powered green laser pointers as light source. Because of their simplicity and low cost, CO2 sensor based on PDA-1 may be useful in various environments. Reference 1. Xu, Q.; Lee, S.; Cho, Y.; Kim, M. H.; Bouffard, J.; Yoon, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 17751-17754. 2. Guo, Z.; Song, N. R.; Moon, J. H.; Kim, M.; Jun, E. J.; Choi, J.; Lee, J. Y.; Bielaski, C. W.; Sessler, J. L.; Yoon, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 17846. 3. Chen, X.; Kang, S.; Kim, M. J.; Kim, J.; Kim, Y. S.; Kim, H.; Chi, B.; Kim, S.-J.; Lee, J. Y.; Yoon, J. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 1422.

Fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor for carbon dioxide based on polydiacetylene

248th National Meeting (2014)

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