Ion And Molecule Sensors Using Molecular Recognition In Luminescent Conductive Polymers Fy 1997 Year End Progress Report

The purpose of this project is to use molecular recognition strategies to develop sensor technology based on luminescent, conductive polymers that contain sites for binding specific molecules or ions in the presence of related molecules or ions. Selective binding of a particular molecule or ion of interest to these polymers will result in a large change in their luminescence and/or conductivity, which can be used to both qualitatively and quantitatively sense the presence of the bound molecules or ions. The main thrusts and accomplishments in the first year of this project involve developing polymer syntheses that yield conjugated polymers to which a wide variety of ligands for metal ion binding can be readily incorporated.