Patent ID: 8008090

Claim:
A method of vapochromically sensing the presence of an analyte, comprising: (a) providing a solid-state vapochromic structure comprising a coordination polymer having the chemical formula: M W [M′ X (Z) Y ] N wherein M and M′ are the same or different metals capable of forming a coordination complex with the Z moiety, wherein at least one of the Z moiety comprises a bridging unit bound to M by a coordinate bond; Z is selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, thiolates, alkoxides and amides; W is between 1-6; X and Y between 1-9; and N is between 1-5; (b) exposing said solid-state vapochromic structure to said analtye; and (c) detecting any chromatic changes in said vapochromic structure.