Polymeric temperature and pH fluorescent sensor synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Simple‐structured copolymer, poly(NIPMAM‐ co ‐CPMA), consisting of N ‐isopropylmethacrylamide (NIPMAM) and ( Z )‐4‐(1‐cyano‐2‐(4‐(dimethylamino) phenyl)vinyl)phenylmethylacrylate (CPMA) units as thermo‐ and pH‐responsive fluorescent signaling parts, respectively, has been synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The copolymer PCN250 ( m / n = 250) shows absorbance enhancement or decrease at different pH value. However, the fluorescence intensity of this copolymer shows enhancement with a rise in temperature regardless of pH value in the range of pH = 4–10. In addition, fluorescence suppression of copolymer (PCN250) was observed with high proton concentration. Moreover, the lower critical solution temperature of the copolymers, poly‐(NIPMAM‐ co ‐CPMA), with different component was also investigated.