The fluorescence enhancement of Tb3＋ ion in the aqueous solution of acrylamide (AM) and 4-(ω-propenoyloxyethoxy)benzoic acid (PEBA) copolymers synthesized by a template copolymerization process was investigated. The complex of the carboxyl and the hydrophobic association changed the micro-environment of Tb3＋ ion, reduced the number of coordinated water molecules to Tb3＋ ion, so the fluorescence of Tb3＋ ion was enhanced. The content of PEBA was increased or the PEBA in the copolymer existed as micro-blocks, and the micro-environment effect was enhanced. Moreover the copolymer could transfer energy from the light-harvesting phenyl subunit to the Tb3＋ ion, which prominently enhanced the fluorescence intensity of Tb3＋ ion (antenna effect).

Key words: template polymerization, hydrophobic association, Tb3＋ ion, fluorescence enhancement