Crosslinked monodisperse particles containing luminophore groups in shells for molecular recognition of lower alcohols

The molecular imprinting technique is used for the synthesis of monodisperse polymer particles via the seed emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and comonomers based on Nile Red. The introduction of lower alcohol templates into the reaction mixture and their removal after the synthesis lead to the formation of molecular-recognition sites in the shell that contain luminophore groups and give an optical response to the presence of methanol and ethanol in the gas phase. The particles are investigated via electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, and their specific surface area is determined through the BET method. The kinetics of a change in the luminescence of thin films based on the particles in vapors of lower alcohols is investigated.