Anion sensing properties of electrospun nanofibers incorporating a thiourea-based chromoionophore in methanol

To sense hydrophilic anions in protic solvents, we fabricated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers incorporating 4-nitrophenyl azo thiourea polymer as a chromoionophore. When methanol solutions containing anions contacted the PMMA nanofiber, a bathochromic shift from 386 nm was observed in the absorption maximum of the chromoionophore. This spectral change is due to hydrogen bond formation between the urea moiety of the thiourea-based polymer and anions penetrating the nanofiber. This spectral change was not observed in PMMA film incorporating the same anion sensor, and the difference is attributed to the much larger specific surface area of the nanofiber compared to the film. As a result, many anions could react with the anion-sensing polymers in the nanofiber and induce a large spectral response. [Display omitted] •PMMA nanofibers containing anion-sensing polymer were prepared.•The fabricated nanofibers responded to anions in methanol.•Fabricated nanofibers showed a larger response than films with the same composition.