Stimulus responsive fluorescent hyperbranched polymers and their applications

Fluorescent hyperbranched polymers (FHBPs), which combine the versatile fluorescent property with unique characteristics of hyperbranched architecture, are desirable candidates for stimulus responsive materials. This review demonstrates the structure and environment-dependent emission behaviors of a series of FHBPs. AEE active FHBPs showing opposite performance to ACQ effect are used to sensitively detect explosives and a superamplification effect is found. Specially designed FHBPs can complex with metal ions, leading to fluorescence turn-off due to complex quenching effect. The protonation of amino-containing FHBPs exhibits pH-dependent fluorescence responses to solution acidity. Some FHBPs containing responsive moieties are photo- and thermo-sensitive, and show potential applications as smart materials.