The present invention generally relates to polymers with lasing characteristics that allow the polymers to be useful in detecting analytes. In one aspect, the polymer, upon an interaction with an analyte, may exhibit a change in a lasing characteristic that can be determined in some fashion. For example, interaction of an analyte with the polymer may affect the ability of the polymer to reach an excited state that allows stimulated emission of photons to occur, which may be determined, thereby determining the analyte. In another aspect, the polymer, upon interaction with an analyte, may exhibit a change in stimulated emission that is at least 10 times greater with respect to a change in the spontaneous emission of the polymer upon interaction with the analyte. The polymer may be a conjugated polymer in some cases. In one set of embodiments, the polymer includes one or more hydrocarbon side chains, which may be parallel to the polymer backbone in some instances. In another set of embodiments, the polymer may include one or more pendant aromatic rings. In yet another set of embodiments, the polymer may be substantially encapsulated in a hydrocarbon. In still another set of embodiments, the polymer may be substantially resistant to photobleaching. In certain aspects, the polymer may be useful in the detection of explosive agents, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT).
本发明一般涉及具有激光特性的
聚合物,使得这些
聚合物在检测分析物方面具有用途。在一方面,
聚合物与分析物相互作用后,可能会表现出激光特性的变化,这可以通过某种方式来确定。例如,分析物与
聚合物的相互作用可能会影响
聚合物达到允许刺激发射光子的激发态的能力,从而可以确定分析物。在另一方面,
聚合物与分析物相互作用后,可能会表现出刺激发射的变化,相对于
聚合物与分析物相互作用时自发发射的变化至少大10倍。在某些情况下,
聚合物可以是共轭
聚合物。在一组实施例中,
聚合物包括一个或多个
碳氢侧链,在某些情况下可能与
聚合物主链平行。在另一组实施例中,
聚合物可能包括一个或多个悬挂的芳香环。在另一组实施例中,
聚合物可能被完全封装在
碳氢中。在还另一组实施例中,
聚合物可能对光漂白具有相当的抵抗力。在某些方面,
聚合物可能在检测爆炸性物质方面有用,例如
2,4,6-三硝基甲苯(T
NT)和
2,4-二硝基甲苯(D
NT)。