Due to the unique amplified effect as molecular wires

conjugated polymers have advantage over small molecules in building up sensory systems with high sensitivity. This article presents several basic issues need to be considered in the design of fluorescent chemosensors

such as

the molecular recognition

the sensing mechanism and the read-out. Afterwards

the molecular assembly concept based on the combination of different functional modules was advanced for the synthesis of conjugated polymers with tuned properties to meet diverse sensing applications. Different poly(arylene ethylene)s (PAE) were used as examples to illustrate this concept. The sensing mechanisms as well as the applications of sensory systems were also discussed.