A colorimetric Fe3+ sensor based on an anionic poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) derivative

An anionic water-soluble poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) derivative (PProDOTCB-salt) with doublet shaped carboxyl-containing side chains has been applied as a colorimetric sensor to detect Fe3+ in 100% aqueous solutions. The Fe3+-induced disassembly of inter-chain aggregates, conformation changes, intra-chain aggregation of PProDOTCB-salt and its colorimetric and fluorescent responses have been studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that Fe3+ can be detected with the naked eye through the color change of polymer solutions from purple to faint yellow. In addition the Fe3+ detection ability of the sensor is unaffected with the presence of other commonly coexistent ions. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.