Development of a new metal ion optic sensor material based on nano dimensional polystyrene crystalline colloidal arrays

As a new technology, recently a self assembled array of highly charged, monodisperse colloidal particles, called crystalline colloidal array (CCA) are introduced into the science. The particles are generally monodisperse polymer or inorganic spheres. The mentioned CCAs are mostly used development of novel materials. Novel materials are basically called sensors for metal ions and all kinds of organic molecules. This developed new method permanently locks the order of the CCA by embedding the CCA into a polymer network (PCCA). The polymer around the CCA can be functionalized with some recognition molecule, making these materials useful as optical sensors.This study reports the development of a novel sensing material which contains periodic crystalline colloidal arrays. 2-aminomethyl-18-crown-6 (2A18C6) was used as the recognition agent. K+, Na+, Li+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Pb2+ and H+ which have possibility to form complex with 2A18C6, tried to determine with our sensor material. We also showed that hydrolyzed PCCAs can be used as pH, temperature and ionic strength sensor.