School of Chemistry, South China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China; School of Health Medicine, Guangzhou Huashang College, Guangzhou 511300, P. R. China
Xi-Ying Cao
School of Chemistry, South China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
Ying Xiao
School of Chemistry, South China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
Shi-He Luo
School of Chemistry, South China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China; Corresponding author
Qi Chen
School of Chemistry, South China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
Yong-Jun Zhou
School of Chemistry, South China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
Zhao-Yang Wang
School of Chemistry, South China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China; Corresponding author
Summary: A series of N-alkyl-substituted polybenzimidazoles (SPBIs), synthesized by simple condensation and N-alkylation, act as functional materials with tunable microstructures and sensing performance. For their controllable morphologies, the formation of nano-/microspheres is observed at the n(RBr)/n(PBI) feed ratio of 5:1. Products with different degrees of alkylation can recognize metal ions and nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). For example, SPBI-c, obtained at the feed ratio of 1:1, can selectively detect Cu2+, Fe3+, and NACs. By contrast, SPBI-a, obtained at the feed ratio of 0.1:1, can exclusively detect Cu2+ with high sensitivity. Their sensing mechanisms have been studied by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, XPS, and DFT calculations. Interestingly, the SPBIs can adsorb Cu2+ in solution and show good recyclability. These results demonstrate that polymeric materials with both sensing and adsorption applications can be realized by regulating the alkylation extent of the main chain, thus providing a new approach for the facile synthesis of multifunctional materials.
