Sulfur-containing, triphenylamine-based red-emitting conjugated polymer/I− assembly as turn-on optical probe for mercury(II) ion

- A type of red-emitting conjugated polymer was selected as probing platform.
- High affinity between I− and Hg2+ played key role in the detection process.
- Fluorescence of this polymer was specifically quenched by the introduction of I−.
- Fluorescence turn-on probing of Hg2+ was achieved by polymer/I− assembly.
- The presence of S in this polymer seems did not perturb the detection of Hg2+.