Abstract:We report the responsive fluorescence chemosensory phenomena of a carbazolefunctionalized crosslinked polymer (PCaT) with pendent terpyridine (tpy) groups as receptors of metal ions. The polymer was synthesized using Heck polymerization between 3,6-dibromide groups in a carbazole-based polymer (PC2Br) and divinyl tpy monomer. The effects of the polymeric structure on the optical and chemosensory properties of the PCaT were compared with those of a carbazole-tpy alternating conjugated polymer (PCT). Photoluminescence titrations demonstrated that the PCaT and PCT had the high sensing ability toward Fe 3+ ions, with Stern-Volmer constants of 8.10 × 10 4 and 6.68 × 10 4 M −1 , respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) toward Fe 3+ of the PCaT and PCT was estimated to be 1.31 × 10 −6 and 1.81 × 10 −6 M, respectively, and the superior LOD of the PCaT was ascribed to its lowly crosslinked structure. The fluorescence of the solutions of these polymers that were quenched by Fe 3+ ions recovered when trace CN − anions were added because of the high stability constant of the CN − -Fe 3+ complex. Micellar aggregates with a mean diameter of approximately 239.5 nm were formed by dissolving the PCaT in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. Our results suggest that the PCaT is a promising material for chemosensory applications.