Click functionalized naphthalene contained polycarbazole microspheres for use in electrochromic applications

New fluorescent and electropolymerizable monomer 2-((1-(naphthalene-1-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl)methoxy)-9H-carbazole (NPC) was designed via efficient click synthesis of naphthalene and carbazole moiety. NPC was characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, fluorescence, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The produced monomer was electropolymerized by electrochemical oxidation of carbazole moieties on indium tin oxide in the ACN: BFEE (2:1, v/v) where LiClO4 was used as the supporting electrolyte. The resulting polymer film PNPC depicted well-defined electrochemical properties and a low monomer oxidation potential at around 0.80 V. PNPC displayed multi-electrochromic behaviors, which have color changing from transparent to dark blue reversibly when different voltages were applied. The remarkable electrochromic behavior of the PNPC was explained in detail with the help of spectroelectrochemical studies. The PNPC film exhibited high optic contrast of 77% at 701 nm and a fast-switching time of 1.0 s. When the surface morphology was examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was determined that PNPC film formed self-assembled microspheres electrochemically. Due to their high optical contrast and stable electrochemical characteristics, these microspheres might be a desirable option as electrode materials for use in electrochromic applications. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.