Zn-Salphen Acrylic Films Powered by Aggregation-Induced Enhanced Emission for Sensing Applications

• Published in: Journal of fluorescence Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 1903 - 1912
• Main Authors: Enríquez-Palacios, Ernesto, Robledo-Patiño, Ana Victoria, Zelada-Guillén, Gustavo A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Analytical Chemistry; Biochemistry; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biophysics; Biotechnology; Chemical sensors; Chemical synthesis; Emission; Fluorescence; Optoelectronic devices; Polymethyl methacrylate; Supramolecular compounds; Fluorescent films; Aggregation-induced emission; Zn-salphen complex; Polymer sensor
• ISSN: 1053-0509; 1573-4994; 1573-4994
• DOI: 10.1007/s10895-023-03399-6

Zn(II) complexes possess attractive characteristics for supramolecular chemistry, catalysis, and optoelectronic applications, while Zn-Salphen counterparts are also suitable as chemical sensors, although limited by solution-based to date. In this study, we report the synthesis of new polymers from methyl methacrylate,
n
-butyl acrylate, and a non-symmetrical Zn-Salphen complex. We show that this low-fluorescent complex exhibits aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties and that, the incorporation of AIEE complexes into a polymeric matrix make it possible to achieve fluorescent films with enhanced fluorescence suitable for sensing applications. As a proof of concept, these films could detect acetic acid, showing a decrease of up to 73% in the original fluorescence. Host/guest studies showed a subtle disruption of the emission in aggregates upon treatment with anion guests. These results indicate that an interaction between the guest and Zn-Salphen complex may occur, stabilizing or destabilizing the complex and causing a concomitant increase or decrease in emission.