Crosslinked monodisperse particles containing luminophore groups in shells for molecular recognition of lower alcohols

Abstract

The molecular imprinting technique is used for the synthesis of monodisperse polymer particles via the seed emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and comonomers based on Nile Red. The introduction of lower alcohol templates into the reaction mixture and their removal after the synthesis lead to the formation of molecular recognition sites in the shell that contain luminophore groups and give an optical response to the presence of methanol and ethanol in the gas phase. The particles are investigated via electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, and their specific surface area is determined through the BET method. The kinetics of a change in the luminescence of thin films based on the particles in vapors of lower alcohols is investigated.

Photonic Crystal Films Based on Polymer Particles with a Core/Shell Structure Responding to Ethanol

“…Photonic crystals (PCs) are a class of materials that are promising both for studying new fundamental phenomena in quantum and nonlinear optics and for creating hierarchical materials with new physical, physicochemical, or biological properties. − The fundamental property of PCs is a spatially periodic change of its permittivity with a period comparable to the light wavelength. − Since the reflection wavelength of a polymer film based on PCs can be easily varied by changing the diameter of monodisperse polymer particles, − it is possible to create optical sensor materials based on polymeric PCs. Also, the reflection wavelength of the PC-based film can be modulated by changing the lattice spacing due to external influences, such as temperature, pressure, and the presence of volatile organic compounds. − PCs with tunable optical properties have great potential for a wide range of applications such as strain sensors or smart labels. − …”