A new DDTC-functionalized disubstituted polyacetylene (P2) with strong green fluorescence was successfully synthesized by utilizing the postfunctional method. The polymer was soluble in common organic solvents, and its strong green fluorescence could be quenched by mercury ions with detection limit down to 1.7 x 10(-7) mol/L (34 ppb). Moreover, nearly no interference was observed from other metal ions, including Li+, Na+, K+, Fe3+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Pb2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Ag+ and Cr3+. Furthermore, P2 could be put into application by test strips, making P2 a practical, sensitive and selective mercury probe. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.