Multielectrochromic Copolymers Based on Thiophene Derivatives: Tunable Optoelectronic Properties

• Published in: Fibers and polymers Vol. 23; no. 9; pp. 2517 - 2525
• Main Authors: Guo, Yafei, Tao, Yijie, Liang, Gaoyong, Dong, Mengjie, Wang, Meihui, Hao, Xinmin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Fiber Society 01.09.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chains (polymeric); Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copolymers; Doppler effect; Electrochromism; Optoelectronics; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Red shift; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Electrochemical copolymerization; 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene; optoelectronic properties; Electrochromism; 3-Methyloxythiophene
• ISSN: 1229-9197; 1875-0052
• DOI: 10.1007/s12221-022-4028-0

In this study, a series of copolymers based on 3-methoxythiophene(MOT) and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) have been prepared by electrochemical method in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The copolymers are characterized by FTIR, XPS, SEM and cyclic voltammograms. The MOT/EDOT ratio in the polymer chain decreases with the decreasing MOT/EDOT feed ratio, and low polymerization potential incorporates more EDOT units into the polymer chain. The electrochromic properties of the copolymers can be greatly tuned by the applied MOT/EDOT feed ratio. Absorption peak of the neutral copolymer presents red-shift with increasing feed ratio, and each copolymer has multicolor electrochromism. In addition, the copolymers present fast-switching response, reasonable coloration efficiency and good stability. All these indicate that the copolymers based on facile, commercial MOT and EDOT are promising candidates for electrochromic applications.