Novel multicolored electrochromic polymers containing phenanthrene-9,10-quinone and thiophene derivatives moieties

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 112; pp. 95 - 103
• Main Authors: Xu, Gangqiang, Zhao, Jinsheng, Cui, Chuansheng, Hou, Yingfei, Kong, Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Color; Cross coupling; Derivatives; Devices; Electrochemical polymerization; Electrochromic devices; Electrochromism; Monomers; Multi-colored electrochromism; Phenanthra-9,10-quinone; Polymers; Quinones; Spectroelectrochemistry; Electrochromic devices; Multi-colored electrochromism; Phenanthra-9,10-quinone; Electrochemical polymerization; Spectroelectrochemistry
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2013.08.127

This figure shows electrochromic properties of the two polymers. •Two polymers based on phenanthra-9,10-quinone were synthesized and characterized.•Both of the two polymers exhibit multichromic properties.•The structure of substitution influences electrochromic properties of the polymers.•One polymer had high optical contrast, the other exhibited excellent response time. Two novel monomers 2,7-bis(3-ethylthiophen-2-yl)-9,10-phenanthrenequinone (ETPQ) and 2,7-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-9,10-phenanthrenequinone (DDPQ) were successfully synthesized via Stille cross coupling reaction. Meanwhile, the corresponding polymers PETPQ and PDDPQ were synthesized electrochemically and characterized carefully. Both polymer films displayed multi-colored electrochromism. The PETPQ film showed a yellow color at neutral state, and with the increase of the applied potential, its color switched from yellowish green to green, and then light blue, finally a blue color in the oxidized state was observed. The color of the PDDPQ film was red in its neutral state, and turned to blue in the oxidized state, in intermediate states, violet red and purple colors were observed. Moreover, the parameters (coloration efficiency, optical contrast and response time) of the two interesting polymers were all reasonable and satisfactory. The dual-type electrochromic device based on PETPQ film (or PDDPQ film) and PEDOT film was constructed and characterized as well. Both of them revealed excellent properties.