Abstract: The present invention involves a series of articles, compositions, methods, and kits. Some aspects of the invention include articles such as particles, sols, blends, dispersions, films, or microarrays that comprise luminescent polymers, as well as methods for making and using such articles. In some cases, the luminescent polymer may be characterized in part by having a delocalized ?-orbital structure, which can allow the polymer to have a high degree of luminosity. The polymers of this invention may also have, in some embodiments, bulky substituents to prevent intermolecular ?-? interactions that can decrease luminosity. Some articles may include more than one luminescent polymer, for example, a first polymer that absorbs energy and directs the energy to a second polymer that releases the energy.