Synthesis of solution-processable poly(3,4 propylenedioxythiophene) nanobelts for electrochromic device applications

A new derivative of di-4-isopropyl benzyl substituted propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT-IPBz(2)) monomer was synthesized and its resultant polymer was prepared by chemical and electrochemical methods. The chemical polymerization was carried out in a hexane/water reverse microemulsion system using sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) as self-assembling template. Chemically synthesized PProDOT-IPBz(2) was formed as thin nanobelts with high aspect ratio (3:100), and it was found to be soluble in common organic solvents. The electrochemical and electrochromic (EC) properties of PProDOT-IPBz(2) films were studied and it was found that PProDOT-IPBz(2) films showed high transparency at oxidized state (+1.0 V) and dark purple color formed at reduced state (-1.0 V). The color contrast of solution cast film was calculated to be 37% Tat 550 nm, however electropolymerized PProDOT-IPBz(2) film exhibited a color contrast of 48% at 550 nm with switching speed of similar to 1 s, and the coloration efficiency was calculated to be 305 cm(2)C(-1). (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.