Turn Off-On Fluorescent CO₂ Gas Detection Based on Amine-Functionalized Imidazole-Based Poly(ionic liquid).

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Poly(ionic liquids) (PILs) combine ionic liquid characteristics with polymer properties, making them suitable for CO2 capture.
• Amine-functionalized PILs are explored for advanced sensing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize an amine-functionalized poly(vinylimidazole)-based PIL (PVIm-NH2) as a chemosensor for CO2.
• To evaluate the CO2 detection capabilities of PVIm-NH2.

Main Methods:

• Facile and low-cost synthesis of PVIm-NH2.
• Characterization using 1H NMR, FT-IR, GPC, and spectrofluorometry.
• CO2 detection experiments in the presence of triethylamine (TEA).

Main Results:

• PVIm-NH2 was successfully synthesized and characterized.
• Optimized CO2 detection achieved a limit of 2.86 × 10-3 M (R2 = 0.9906).
• Mechanism involves TEA-induced N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) generation, reacting with CO2 to form carboxylic acid.

Conclusions:

• PVIm-NH2 functions as an effective chemosensor for CO2 detection.
• The study demonstrates a plausible reaction mechanism involving NHC intermediates.
• PILs offer potential as versatile chemosensors with tunable structures.