Electrosynthesis of copolymers based on 1,3,5-tris(N-Carbazolyl)benzene and 2,2'-bithiophene and their applications in electrochromic devices

Abstract

Poly(1,3,5-tris(N-carbazolyl)benzene) (PtnCz) and three copolymers based on 1,3,5-tris(N-carbazolyl)benzene (tnCz) and 2,2'-bithiophene (bTp) were electrochemically synthesized. The anodic P(tnCz1-bTp2) film with a tnCz/bTp feed molar ratio of 1/2 showed four colors (light orange at 0.0 V, yellowish-orange at 0.7 V, yellowish-green at 0.8 V, and blue at 1.1 V) from the neutral state to oxidized states. The optical contrast (ΔT%) and coloration efficiency (η) of the P(tnCz1-bTp2) film were measured as 48% and 112 cm2C-1, respectively, at 696 nm. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) based on PtnCz, P(tnCz1-bTp1), P(tnCz1-bTp2), P(tnCz1-bTp4), and PbTp films as anodic polymer layers and poly(3,4-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-2H-thieno[3,4-b-1,4]dioxepin) (PProDOT-Me2) as cathodic polymer layers were assembled. P(tnCz1-bTp2)/PProDOT-Me2 ECD showed three various colors (saffron yellow, yellowish-blue, and dark blue) at potentials ranging from -0.3 to 1.5 V. In addition, P(tnCz1-bTp2)/PProDOT-Me2 ECD showed a high ΔT% value (40% at 630 nm) and a high coloration efficiency (519 cm2C-1 at 630 nm).