Patent ID: 7812323

Claim:
A sensor comprising: (i) a compound of formula (I): [DENDRON 1 ] p -CORE-[[X] r [DENDRON] m ] n (I) wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10; p is zero or an integer of from 1 to 9; the sum of n and p is from 3 to 10; CORE is a group providing at least (n+p) points of attachment, each point of attachment being bonded to one X, DENDRON or DENDRON 1 group, and wherein the bonds between CORE and at least three X, DENDRON or DENDRON 1 groups are not co-planar; each r is independently zero or an integer of from 1 to 10; each m is independently zero or 1, with the proviso that for every point of attachment, when r is zero then m is one, and when m is zero then r is greater than zero; each [X] r group is the same or different, wherein: when m is zero, then −[X] r is a terminal group, and each X, which is the same or different if r is greater than one, is a group selected from aryl, heteroaryl, vinylene, acetylene and iptycene groups and from planar metal complexes; when m is 1, then -[X] r - is a linking group bonded to the CORE and terminating in a single bond to the first branching group of DENDRON, and each X, which is the same or different if r is greater than one, is a group selected from aryl, heteroaryl, vinylene, acetylene and iptycene groups and from planar metal complexes; each DENDRON is the same or different and represents an at least partially conjugated dendritic molecular structure comprising at least one branching group and optionally at least one linking group, the branching groups being selected from aryl and heteroaryl groups and nitrogen atoms, and the linking groups being selected from aryl, heteroaryl, vinyl and acetylenyl groups, said branching groups being bonded to three or more groups, and said linking groups being bonded to two groups, said dendritic molecular structure terminating at its distal points in aryl and/or heteroaryl groups; and each DENDRON 1 , where present, represents an at least partially dendritic molecular structure, wherein the compound of formula (I) is present in the sensor in the form of a film consisting essentially of said compound; and (ii) an excitation source and detector capable of measuring the electronic and/or optical properties of the compound of formula (I).