Highly selective anionic counterion-based fluorescent sensor for Hg ²⁺ by grafted conjugated polyelectrolytes

Grafted conjugated polyelectrolytes were synthesized for the first time and characterized. The polymers demonstrated properties of a convenient and efficient protocol for creating Hg²⁺ sensors. The unique character of the new material comes from an anionic counterion nature with no external cofactors, and imparts high selectivity and fast detection for mercury ion in a fluorescence probe. The concept may be potentially applied to create new sensors for monitoring other ions. Grafted conjugated polyelectrolytes were synthesized for the first time and characterized. The polymers demonstrated properties of a convenient and efficient protocol for creating Hg²⁺ sensors. The unique character of the new material comes from an anionic counterion nature with no external cofactors, and imparts high selectivity and fast detection for mercury ion in a fluorescence probe. The concept may be potentially applied to create new sensors for monitoring other ions.