Size-dependent photochemical anion recognition by ion-templated polyviologen film

We developed a new anion-imprinted electropolymerization method to form com plementary cavity to the size of the used electrolyte anion as template in the cross-linked polyviologen film prepared by reductive coupling reaction of trifunctional monomer. The film has both size-dependent anion exchange p roperty due to the anion-imprinted cavity and photoreduction property of th e viologen moieties strongly dependent on the electron donability of the ex changed anion in the film. The anion-imprinted polyviologen film plays a ro le in a new type of optical sensing to recognize various anions.