Conjugated Polymers Containing EDOT Units as Novel Materials for Electrochromic and Resistance Memory Devices

Abstract

Four new multifunctional polymers (P1, P2, P3, and P4) containing EDOT units were synthesized by the Stille coupling reaction. A PL spectrum test found that the introduction of large conjugated groups led to strong fluorescence emission in all polymers. Among the electrochromic and switch properties, these polymer films exhibited reversible color changes, as well as good coloring efficiency. Electrochemical experiments found that the initial oxidation potentials of the polymers were 1.27 V, 1.67 V, 1.78 V, and 1.58 V, respectively. Among them, P3 showed a higher coloring efficiency (283.3 cm2·C−1), and P2 showed a shorter response time (tc = 2.2 s, tb = 2.8 s). These polymers all exhibited electrochromic and resistive switching storage characteristics. They have good solubility in many organic solvents. In the resistance switch memory characteristics, all polymers had obvious memristive properties, and P4 exhibited a larger switch current ratio (2527.42) and a smaller threshold voltage (0.9 V).