Fluorescent Porous Carbazole‐Decorated Copolymer Monodisperse Microspheres: Facile synthesis, Selective and Recyclable Detection of Iron (III) in Aqueous Medium

Abstract

We demonstrate an environmentally friendly one-step soap-free emulsion polymerization strategy to develop fluorescent carbazole-based copolymer monodisperse microspheres for highly sensitive and selective detection of Fe . The copolymer microspheres feature a stable spherical morphology with a narrow size distribution through regulating N-vinylcarbazole (NVCz) content (1.25-10.0 wt.%). Notably, the as-made microspheres exhibit a strong luminescence, tunable emission intensity and specific surface areas. Interestingly, the fluorescence of the copolymer microspheres can be selectively quenched by trace amounts of Fe due to the oxidation of carbazole, and the quenching fluorescence can be facilely recovered by reduction with NaBH . Its excellent sensing performance is shown in terms of high sensitivity (low limit of detection, 1.3 μm), excellent selectivity, and rapid response rate, due to the porous nature of the copolymer microspheres. These results illustrate the copolymer microspheres obtained by simple preparative procedure without using expensive or toxic raw materials would serve as a high performance sensor for highly selective and recyclable detection of Fe in aqueous medium.

Synthesis and Application of Fluorescent Polymer Micro‐ and Nanoparticles

“…Besides, surfactant-free emulsion polymerization and reverse phase microemulsion polymerization are also utilized to prepare fluorescent polymer particles. [32,47,48] For example, Roghani-Mamaqani and co-workers fabricated functionalized latex particles bearing fluorochromic and photochromic compounds by surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization of MMA and spiropyran monomers. [47] The functionalization of latex particles was achieved by adding hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), GMA and methacrylic acid (MAA) monomers.…”

Ultrasound and Pressure Assisted Solid‐State Polymerization of Carbazole

“…[41] PCz is preferred especially in applications such as nano devices, rechargeable batteries and electrochemical transistors due to its very good optoelectronic properties, high charge carrier mobility, excellent morphological stability and electrochromic properties. [42] Although there are many studies on the polymerization of Cz by chemical [43] and electrochemical [44] methods, photochemical, [45,46] microwave-assisted, [47,48] emulsion, [49] addition, [50] plasma [51] and solid-state [52] polymerizations, no solid-state polymerization assisted with ultrasound and pressure has been found. Jadoun et al were reported Cz polymerization in an aqueous solution of naphthalene sulfonic acid in the presence of FeCl 3 at room temperature by ultrasound-assisted method.…”

“…Although there are many studies on the polymerization of Cz by chemical [43] and electrochemical [44] methods, photochemical, [45,46] microwave‐assisted, [47,48] emulsion, [49] addition, [50] plasma [51] and solid‐state [52] polymerizations, no solid‐state polymerization assisted with ultrasound and pressure has been found.…”

Polymethacrylate Sphere-Based Assay for Ultrasensitive miRNA Detection

“…Nano/microspheres have drawn a great deal of interest in immunoassays due to their key advantageous features including (i) amenability to screening and multiplexing; (ii) significantly larger specific surface area in comparison with two-dimensional (2D) platforms which facilitate higher analyte-surface interaction; and (iii) high spatial freedom for interaction with biomolecules of interest [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. miRNA detection using different particle types are reported in the literature [22,23].…”