Four novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active poly(acrylates), in which AIE-active luminogens 3,6-bis(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)carbazole (BTPC) and bis(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl) phenyl)amine (BTPPA) were linked to the polymer backbone via a flexible alkyl chain, were synthesized in high yields. Spectrofluorometric analysis of polymer nano-aggregates in tetrahydrofuran/water revealed that PTPPA-based polymers gave more sensitive fluorescence response to nitro-aromatics including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene than BTPC-based polymers. Paper probes were also fabricated for solid-state detection of explosives. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.