Synthesis and Characterization of Solution-Processible Donor-Acceptor Electrochromic Conjugated Copolymers Based on Quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine as the Acceptor Unit

Donor-acceptor (D-A) type conjugated polymers are of high interest in the field of electrochromism. In this study, three novel conjugated copolymers (PBPE–1, PBPE-2 and PBPE-3) based on quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine (A) as the acceptor unit and 4,8-bis((2-octyldodecyl)oxy)benzo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhen Xu, Bozhen Wang, Lingqian Kong, Jinsheng Zhao, Yuchang Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/4/940
Description
Summary:Donor-acceptor (D-A) type conjugated polymers are of high interest in the field of electrochromism. In this study, three novel conjugated copolymers (PBPE–1, PBPE-2 and PBPE-3) based on quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine (A) as the acceptor unit and 4,8-bis((2-octyldodecyl)oxy)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (D1) and 3,3-didecyl-3,4-dihydro-2<i>H</i>-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine (ProDOT-decyl<sub>2</sub>, D2) as the donor units with different donor-to-acceptor ratios were successfully synthesized through Stille coupling polymerization. The polymers were then characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectoscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), spectroelectrochemistry, thermogravimetry (TG), electrochromic switching and colorimetry. Optical band gap values were calculated as 1.99 eV, 2.02 eV and 2.03 eV, respectively. The three copolymers have good solubility, distinct redox peaks, wide absorption spectra, good thermal stabilities, bright color changes and significant electrochromic switching properties. Compared to the other two copolymers, the PBPE-3 film exhibited high coloration efficiency values of 513 cm<sup>2</sup>·C<sup>−1</sup> at 504 nm and 475 cm<sup>2</sup>·C<sup>−1</sup> at 1500 nm. The films have the advantage of exhibiting cathodic and anodic coloration.
ISSN:2073-4360