A semi-empirical model to simplify the synthesis of homogeneous and transparent cross-linked polymers and their application in the preparation of optical sensing films

We propose a simple, semi-empirical model based on Hansen's solubility parameters for simplifying the synthesis and the optimization of homogeneous and transparent cross-linked polymers in order to obtain optical sensing films. More than 740 experiments were undertaken to demonstrate the reliability of the model and several applications are proposed. We have demonstrated that our model can help in the synthesis and optimization (percentage of cross-linker, changes in hydrophilicity, selection of porogens, quantity of template etc.) of homogeneous and transparent MIPs and NIPs (molecularly imprinted polymers) with VOCs; after the synthesis of 440 polymers in the homogeneity zone only 4.32% of them (19 samples out of 440) were heterogeneous. We suggest a role for its use in the development of novel polymeric resins for detecting volatile organic compounds in water by measuring intrinsic fluorescence, in simplifying the synthesis of imprinted polymers and in decreasing the number of experiments required to optimize optical sensing membranes. In addition, it might also be used for synthesizing and optimizing MIPs with a non-volatile template.