Polymers that change color upon

The process starts with the preparation of polymer solutions, for instance, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and metal compounds, for instance, 3d-metal chlorides. Afterwards, the solutions with a certain concentration are mixed in the ratio PVA-metal chloride equals to 20 1-1 5. Then the prepared solutions are dried till they obtain gel-like colored films with further temperature elevation up to 100°C. The color changes depending upon the metal. The films obtained are controlled spectrophotometrically, and also with the help of transmission optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. When the film color changes to black, the films are heated in the furnace according to the following program 100-200-300-400°C. As a result, the dark porous semiproduct with many microcracks is formed, that is milled in spherical or jet mill. The nanopowder obtained is steamed and dispersed in hot water. After filtration, the powder is dried and tested by means of Raman spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron microdiffiaction. 

Polythiophenes functionalized with monosaccharides have been evaluated for their ability to detect the influenza virus and E. coli (Baek et al. 2000). Copolymers of thiophene acetic acid 10 and carbohydrate-modified thiophenes 11 have been prepared via iron(III) chloride mediated polymerization. Addition of influenza virus to a sialic acid containing copolymer resulted in a blue shift of the polymer absorption maximum, resulting in an orange to red chromatic transition. Mannose-containing polythiophenes underwent color changes upon the addition of the lectin ConA or E. coli cells that contain cell surface mannose-binding receptors. A similar biotinylated pol5hhiophene afforded a streptavidin responsive material (Paid and Leclerc 1996). 

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