Two new fluorene-based copolymers PFOH and PHOH were synthesized through Suzuki-coupling reaction, with p-N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminophenyl and bis(6'-(diethanolamino)hexyl) as side chains, respectively. They were characterized by (1)H NMR, IR, and gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). PFOH shows blue-green emission in THF, and the long emission band exhibits significant bathochromic shift with the increase in solvent polarity, whereas PHOH exhibits a bright blue emission regardless of the solvent polarity. The fluorescence emission behavior of PFOH is analogous to its corresponding terfluorene TFOH, indicating the existence of the intramolecular through-space charge transfer upon being copolymerized into a polymer. Taking advantage of the unique dual emissions, PFOH displays ratiometric "turn-on" responses for Hg(2+). In addition, the two new polymers show an amphiphilic feature and can form self-assembled nanostructures in a THF-H(2)O system, which has influence on their photophysical properties.